Word Problem

Question

In a mixture of concrete, there are three lb of cement mix for each pound of gravel. If the mixture If the mixture contains a total of 208 lb of these two ingredients, how many pounds of gravel are there?

Answer 1

Hi Miranda -

 

 

Let x be the pounds of gravel.

 

Then because there are 3 lbs of cement to each 1 lb of gravel, the number of pounds of cement for each pound of gravel is 3x. 

 

Because we know that the total mixture is 208 lbs, you can set up an equation as follows:

 

x + 3x = 208

 

Then you solve this equation for x and that would be the pounds of gravel in the mixture.