system of equations

Question

mix birdseed that costs 1.25 per pound with sunflower seeds that cost .75 per pound to make 50 pounds of a $1 per pound mixtur. how much of each seed should he use

Answer 1

Hi Kim, the best way to solve this type of problem is to set up a table.

 

Let SF = Sunflower seeds.

Let BS = Birdseed.

Let x   = The unknown weight of Birdseed, than the weight of Sunflower seeds would be: 50 - x.

 

Product        Cost         Weight           Total

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

BS               1.25            x              1.25 * x

 

SF                 .75       50 - x              .75 * (50 - x)

 

Mix             1.00          50               1.00 * 50

 

Set up the equation to solve:

 

1.25 * x + .75 * (50 - x) = 1.00 * 50

 

Solve for x to get the weight of Birdseed needed. Then subtract x from 50 to get the amount of Sunflower seeds needed.

 

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