Algebra word problem

Question

to help sell more of a lower grade meat, a butcher mixes some premium ground beef worth $3.10/lb with 8 lb of lower grade ground $2.68/lb, how much premium ground beef was used?

Answer 1

To solve this problem, you need to know the final price/lbs.

 

The problem algebraically looks like the following:

 

3.10(x)+2.68(8)=y*(x+8)

 

Where x is lbs of premium beef used and y is the final price/lbs

 

Let's say the final price is $2.76/lbs, then the problem turns into

 

3.10(x)+2.68(8)=2.76(x+8) and you solve for x

 

First simplify to

 

3.10x+21.44=2.76x+22.08

 

Then combine like terms by bringing terms to the other side of the equal sign

 

.34x=.64

 

Divide both sides by .34 and voila

 

x=1.88

 

Which means the butcher used 1.88lbs of premium meat!