Problema Solution
A metallurgist has one alloy containing 20% copper and another containing 46% copper. How many pounds of each alloy must he use to make 53 pounds of a third alloy containing 40% copper?
Answer provided by our tutors
Let 'x' stand for the amount of 20% copper needed and '53-x' stand for the amount of 46% copper needed. We can write:
.2x+.46(53-x)=.4(53)
Using Algebrator to solve for x, we get:
x=12.23 pounds of 20% copper
Therefore, he needs '53-12.23' pounds, or 40.77 pounds, of 46% copper.