Question

What quantity of 72% acetic acid solution must be mixed with a 16% acetic acid solution to produce 141.78 mL of 63% solution?

Answer 1

118.99 mL of a 72% acetic acid solution must be mixed with 22.79 mL of a 16% acetic acid solution

Explanation:

Let

x ----> milliliters of 72% acetic acid solution

y ----> milliliters of 16% acetic acid solution

we know that

`x+y=141.78` ----> equation A

Change the percentages to their decimal equivalents

`72\%=72/100=0.72`

`16\%=16/100=0.16`

`63\%=63/100=0.63`

so

`0.72x+0.16y=0.63(141.78)`

`0.72x+0.16y=89.3214` ----> equation B

Solve the system of equations by graphing

Remember that the solution of the system is the intersection point both graphs

using a graphing tool

The intersection point is (118.99,22.79)

see the attached figure

therefore

118.99 mL of a 72% acetic acid solution must be mixed with 22.79 mL of a 16% acetic acid solution