Question

How much salt is in a mixture containing 10 gallons of an 11% salt solution and 6 gallons of a 7% salt solution?

I think I can solve it but forming the equation is where I have problems.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

There really isn't an equation because there isn't an unknown. If we create a table, the "equation" that you are talking about will be come apparent. Let's call the 2 solutions Sol 1 and Sol 2:

Gallons of solution * % salt = Gallons of salt

Sol 1

Sol 2

If we fill in this table according to the info we are given, we have 10 gallons of the 11% solution, and 6 gallons of the 7% solution, so

Gallons of solution * % salt = Gallons of salt

Sol 1 10 .11 = 1.1 gallons of salt

Sol 2 6 .07 = .42 gallons of salt

We multiply the Gallons of solution by the % salt to get the gallons of salt. There are 1.1 gallons of salt in solution 1 and .42 gallons of salt in solution 2, so in the mixture (which is 16 gallons) there is 1.1 + .42 gallons of salt, which is 1.52 gallons of salt.