Question

A scientist mixes water (containing no salt) with a solution that contains 55% salt. She wants to obtain 165 ounces of a mixture that is 30% salt. How many ounces of water and how many ounces of the 55% salt solution should she use?

Answer 1

The scientist should use 75 ounces of water and 90 ounces of the 55% salt solution

Explanation:

x+y=165 where x is the amount of water in ounces and y is the amount of the 55% salt solution in ounces

0+0.55y=0.30*165 where 0 represents the salt content in the water, and 0.55y represents the salt content in the 55% salt solution

By solving these equations, we find that the scientist should use 75 ounces of water and 90 ounces of the 55% salt solution