Question

Perry makes his own furniture polish, which costs $5.90 per kilogram to make. The first ingredient is beeswax, which costs $7.55 per kilogram. The second is linseed oil, which costs $2.05 per kilogram. Perry has already melted down 3 kilograms of beeswax to make the polish. How much linseed oil does he need to add?

Answer 1

Using an equation, in making his furniture polish, Perry needs to add approximately 5.89 kilograms of linseed oil.

An equation is a mathematical statement of the equality or equivalence of two or more mathematical expressions using the equals sign (=).

The manufacturing cost of the furniture polish per kilogram = $5.90

The cost of beeswax per kilogram = $7.55

The cost of linseed oil per kilogram = $2.05

The quantity of beeswax already melted = 3 kilograms

The total cost of the melted beeswax = $22.65 (3x7.55)

Let the quantity of furniture polish Perry wants to make - x kilograms

The total cost of making x kilograms of polish = 5.90x

The cost of the linseed oil needed to make x kilograms of polish is = 5.90x − 22.65

Based on an equation, we can find how much linseed oil Perry needs to add:

5.90x − 22.65 = 2.05x

Simplifying this equation:

3.85x = 22.65

Dividing both sides by 3.85:

x = 5.89

Thus, Perry needs to add approximately 5.89 kilograms of linseed oil to make his furniture polish.