Question

A grocer wants to mix two kinds of candy. One kind sells for $1.15 per pound, and the other sells for

$2.75 per pound. He wants to mix a total of 24 pounds and sell it for $1.30 per pound. How many
pounds of each kind should he use in the new mix? (Round off the answers to the nearest hundredth.)

Answer 1

Hey there!

This grocer is mixing two kinds of coffee. I always love the smell of coffee!

We will say that x sells for $1.15 per pound and y sells for $2.75 per pound.

Altogether there are 24 pounds of coffee he is selling.

The algebraic equation would be x + y = 24

At $1.30 per pound, he will make 24 * $1.30 = $31.2

So, how many of the x and y kinds of coffee should he use to make the $1.30 per pound mixture which will net him $31.2?

The algebraic equation would be 1.15x + 2.75y = 31.2

We now have two equations :

x+y = 24

1.15x + 2.75y = 31.2

Substituting x= 24 -y in the second equation gives us

1.15(24-y) + 2.75y = 31.2

27.6 - 1.15y + 2.75y = 31.2

27.6 + 1.6y = 31.2

1.6y = 31.2 - 27.6

0.3y= 3.6

y= 2.25

x + y = 24

x + 2.25 = 24

x = 24 -2.25

x = 21.75

If y=2.25, then x= 21.75 as well.

So, he will use 21.75 pounds of the $1.15 per/lb one and another 2.25 pounds of the $2.75per/lb one.

~Done~