Question

A chemist wishes to make 5 liters of a 20% acid solution by mixing a 10% acid solution and a 25% acid solution. How many liters of each solution should the chemist use? Write your answer as a complete sentence.

a. Write a system of linear equations that you can use to determine how many liters of each type of acid solution the manager should combine. Be sure to define your variables.
b. Solve the system and determine how many liters of each type of acid solution the manager should combine. Show all your work.

Answer 1

x+y=5
0.1x+0.25y=0.2*5=1
multiple the second equation by 10: x+2.5y=10
subtract the first equation from the new equation: 1.5y=5
y=3 and 1/3
x=1 and 2/3