Question

Ashley sells 18.6 kg bags of mixed nuts that contain 60% peanuts. To make her product she adds peanuts to Brand A's mixed nuts which contain 20% peanuts. How much of each does she combine?

Answer 1

Answer:

She combines 9.3 kg of each.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x = amount of brand A in kg

Let y = amount of peanuts in kg

First we deal with the amount of each product she uses.

"Ashley sells 18.6 kg bags of mixed nuts that contain 60% peanuts."

x + y = 18.6

Now we deal with just the amount of peanuts.

"To make her product she adds peanuts to Brand A's mixed nuts which contain 20% peanuts."

Brand A contains 20% peanuts, so x kg of brand A contains 0.2x kg of peanuts.

The peanuts she adds are pure peanuts, so all of y is peanuts.

The result is 18.6 kg of a mixture that is 60% peanuts, so the amount of peanuts in the bags she sells is 0.6 * 18.6 kg.

0.2x + y = 0.6 * 18.6

0.2x + y = 11.16

We have a system of equations:

x + y = 18.6

0.2x + y = 11.16

We have y in both equations, so let's subtract the second equation from the first equation to eliminate y.

0.8x = 7.44

Divide both sides by 0.8

x = 9.3

Plug in 9.3 for x in the first equation of the system and solve for y.

x + y = 18.6

9.3 + y = 18.6

y = 9.3

Answer: She combines 9.3 kg of each.