Question

Keisha is catering a luncheon. She has $30 to spend on a mixture of Cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese. How many pounds of cheese can Keisha get if she buys only Cheddar cheese? Only Swiss cheese? A mixture of both cheeses? What linear equation in STANDARD FORM can she use to model the situration?

Cheddar Cheese: $3/lb
Swiss Cheese: $5/lb

Answer 1

Only cheddar 10 pounds

Only swiss 6 pounds

Use the equation to find out different combinations.

3x + 5y = 30

For example, 1 pound of cheddar and 5.4 pounds of swiss.

Explanation:

Let x = cheddar

Let y = swiss

3x + 5y = 30

If we only wanted cheddar let y be 0

3x =30 Divide both sides by 3

x = 10

You can buy 10 pounds of cheddar.

If we only wanted swiss let x be 0

5y = 30 Divide both sides by 5

y = 6

You can buy 6 pounds of swiss.

1 pound of cheddar:

3(1) + 5y = 30 Subtract 3 from both sides

5y = 27 Divide both sides by 5

y = 5.4