Question

A merchant mixed 12 lb of a cinnamon tea with 3 lb of spice tea. The 15-pound mixture cost $39. A second mixture included 16 lb of the cinnamon tea and 6 lb of the spice tea. The 22-pound mixture cost $58. Find the

cost per pound of the cinnamon tea and of the spice tea.
cinnamon
spice

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let x be the cost per pound of the cinnamon tea and y be the cost per pound of the spice tea.

From the first mixture, we have:

12x + 3y = 39

From the second mixture, we have:

16x + 6y = 58

We can solve this system of equations by elimination. Multiplying the first equation by 2 and subtracting it from the second equation gives:

16x + 6y = 58

(24x + 6y = 78)

-8x = -20

Dividing both sides by -8 gives:

x = 2.5

Substituting this value of x into the first equation, we get:

12(2.5) + 3y = 39

Simplifying, we get:

30 + 3y = 39

Subtracting 30 from both sides gives:

3y = 9

Dividing both sides by 3 gives:

y = 3

Therefore, the cost per pound of the cinnamon tea is $2.50 and the cost per pound of the spice tea is $3.