Question

There are 140 lb of flour in two sacks. If you take 1 8 of the flour from the first sack and add it to the second, there will be an equal amount of flour in both sacks. What is the original amount in each

Answer 1

The original amount in the first sack is 80 lb of flour

The original amount in the second sack is 60 lb of flour

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the first sack and y represent the second sack

x + y = 140 --------- eqn (1)

One-eight of the flour from the first sack is (1/8)x = x/8

x - x/8 = y + x/8

7x/8 = (x + 8y)/8

7x = x + 8y

7x - x = 8y

6x = 8y

x = 8y/6

Substitute x = 8y/6 in eqn (1)

x + y = 140

8y/6 + y = 140

Multiply each term by 6

8y + 6y = 840

14y = 840

y = 840/14 = 60

x = 8y/6 = 8×60/6 = 8×10 = 80

First sack (x) = 80 lb of flour

Second sack (y) = 60 lb of flour