Question

Rina is making a nut mixture to sell at the local farmers' market. She mixes 6 pounds of pecans with a nut mixture that is 70% pecans. The resultuing mixture is 82% pecans. How many pounds of nut mixture does Rina make?

Answer 1

So the best way to do these is concentration1 (%) × volume1 = concentration2 × volume2
Or C1V1 + C2V2 = C3V3, where C1 = 100% (bc ALL pecans), V1 = 6 lbs, C2 = 70%, C3 = 82%:
100%×6 + 70%×v2 = 82%×(6+v2)
100%=1.00, 70%=.7, 82%=.82
note: if none is poured out then v3 = v1+v2
6 + .7v2 = .82 (6+v2)
6 + .7v2 = 4.92 + .82v2
6 + .7v2 -.7v2 = 4.92 + .82v2 -.7v2
6 = 4.92 + .12v2
6-4.92 = 4.92-4.92 + .12v2
1.08 = .12v2
.12v2/.12 = 1.08/.12
v2 = 9 lbs
that's only v2!!!

For the final poundage, we need v3:

v3 = 6 + v2 = 6 + 9 = 15 lbs