Problema Solution
A mettalurgist needs to make 12.4 pounds of an alloy containing 50% gold. He is going to melt and combine one metal that is 60% gold with another metal that is 20% gold. How much of each should he use?
Answer provided by our tutors
let
x = lbs of the 60% gold
y = lbs of the 20% gold
A mettalurgist needs to make 12.4 pounds of an alloy containing 50% gold:
x + y = 12.4
0.60x + 0.20y = 0.50*12.4
by solving the above system of equations we find:
x = 9.3 lbs
y = 3.1 lbs
click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations:
9.3 pound of 60% gold and 3.1 pounds of 20% gold should be used.