Final answer:
To maintain the same shade of paint when using 8.5 quarts of blue paint, you should mix 3.4 quarts of white paint with it. This is determined by setting up and solving the proportion based on the original ratio of 5 parts blue to 2 parts white.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how much white paint should be mixed with 8.5 quarts of blue paint to maintain the same shade, we need to set up a proportion based on the original mix of 5 parts blue to 2 parts white. We have the following ratio: 5 parts blue : 2 parts white.
For 8.5 quarts of blue paint, the proportion would be:
5 parts blue : 2 parts white = 8.5 quarts blue : x quarts white
To solve for x, we cross-multiply and divide:
(5 parts blue) * (x quarts white) = (2 parts white) * (8.5 quarts blue)
5x = 2 * 8.5
5x = 17
To find x, we divide both sides of the equation by 5:
x = 17 / 5
x = 3.4 quarts
Therefore, you should mix 3.4 quarts of white paint with 8.5 quarts of blue paint to achieve the same shade.