Problem Page
A chef is going to use a mixture of two brands of Italian dressing. The first brand contains 7% vinegar, and the second brand contains 15% vinegar. The chef wants to make 240 milliliters of a dressing that is 13% vinegar. How much of each brand should she use?

Respuesta :

Let [tex]x[/tex] be the amount (in mL) of the first brand (7% vinegar) and [tex]y[/tex] the amount of the second brand (15% vinegar). She wants to end up with a mixture with volume 240 mL, so that

[tex]x+y=240[/tex]

and she wants it contain 13% vinegar. Each mL of the first brand contributes 0.07 mL (i.e. 7% of 1 mL) vinegar, while each mL of the second brand contributes 0.15 mL (i.e. 15% of 1 mL). The final mixture needs to contribute 0.13 mL (i.e. 13% of 1 mL) for each mL of dressing, so that

[tex]0.07x+0.15y=0.13(x+y)=31.2[/tex]

Now solve:

[tex]x+y=240\implies y=240-x[/tex]

[tex]0.07x+0.15y=31.2\implies0.07x+0.15(240-x)=31.2[/tex]

[tex]\implies-0.08x+36=31.2[/tex]

[tex]\implies4.8=0.08x[/tex]

[tex]\implies\boxed{x=60}[/tex]

[tex]y=240-x\implies\boxed{y=180}[/tex]

The chef needs to use 60 mL of the first brand and 180 mL of the second brand.

Answer:

First brand: 60 milliliters

Second brand: 180 milliliters

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's call m the amount of the first dressing mark that contains 7% vinegar

Let's call n the amount of the second dressing mark that contains 15% vinegar

The resulting mixture should have 13% vinegar and 240 milliliters.

Then we know that the total amount of mixture will be:

[tex]m + n = 240[/tex]

Then the total amount of vinegar in the mixture will be:

[tex]0.07m + 0.15n = 0.13 * 240[/tex]

[tex]0.07m + 0.15n = 31.2[/tex]

Then we have two equations and two unknowns so we solve the system of equations. Multiply the first equation by -0.15 and add it to the second equation:

[tex]-0.15m -0.15n = 240 * (- 0.15)[/tex]

[tex]-0.15m -0.15n = -36[/tex]

[tex]-0.15m -0.15n = -36[/tex]

              +

[tex]0.07m + 0.15n = 31.2[/tex]

--------------------------------------

[tex]-0.08m = -4.8[/tex]

[tex]m = \frac{-4.8}{-0.08}[/tex]

[tex]m = 60\ milliliters[/tex]

We substitute the value of m into one of the two equations and solve for n.

[tex]m + n = 240[/tex]

[tex]60 + n = 240[/tex]

[tex]n = 180\ milliliters[/tex]