How many pounds of the $8 coffee should be used?

Question

The manager of a coffee shop has one type of coffee that sells for $8 per pound and another type that sells for $14 per pound. The manager wishes to mix 60 pounds of the $14 coffee to get a mixture that will sell for $10 per pound. How many pounds of the $8 coffee should be used?

Answer 1

Hi Charita

 

To get the average price of something that sells at 2 different amounts and prices you would multiply each amount by its price, add them, and then divide by the total amount.  In this case your unknown is the amount selling at 8 so let's call that X.  Your equation is then:

 

14 * 60  + 8 * X

-------------------    =   10

      60 + X

 

Solving for X give us X = 120, I will assume you can do the algebra for this

 

Now go back and see if this makes sense!!

 

If you sell 60 pounds at 14 dollars a pound that costs $840

 

If you sell 120 pounds at 8 dollars a pound that costs $960

 

Total of $1800 divide by 180 total pounds give you $10, the price per pound you want.

 

Good to go

 

All the best

 

Lori

Answer 2

Let x = number of pounds of $8 type

 

Then, 8x + 14(60) = 10(x+60)

 

         8x + 840 = 10x + 600

 

                  2x = 240

 

                    x = 120 lb