Sue has red apples worth 2.30$ per pound and green apples worth 1.90$ a pound How many pounds of each should she mix to get a mixture of 20 pounds worth 2.06$ per pound?

2 Answers
Oct 22, 2017

8 pounds of red apples
12 pounds of green apples

Explanation:

The "pounds" is the variable with different cost factors.
The total package of 20 pounds will have a value of
20 xx 2.06 = 41.20

The components of this value are from the two apple types:
41.20 = 2.30 xx W_r + 1.90 xx W_g
W_r + W_g = 20 ; W_r = 20 - W_g

Substitute this into the overall equation:
41.20 = 2.30 xx (20 - W_g) + 1.90 xx W_g

Solve for W_g:
41.20 = 46 - 2.30 xx W_g + 1.90 xx W_g
-4.80 = -0.4 xx W_g ; W_g = 12

Solve for W_r:
W_r = 20 - W_g ; W_r = 20 - 12 = 8

CHECK:
41.20 = 2.30 xx W_r + 1.90 xx W_g
41.20 = 2.30 xx 8 + 1.90 xx 12
41.20 = 18.40 + 22.80 = 41.20 CORRECT!

Oct 22, 2017

Red apples =8 pounds
Green apples =12 pounds

Explanation:

Let Red Apples, bought be x pounds
Let Green Apples, bought be y pounds

Then-

x + y = 20 in terms of quantity --------------- (1)
(x xx 2.30) +(y xx 1.90) =20 xx 2.06 in terms of money

2.3x+1.9y=41.2 ------------ (2)

Solve equation (1) for x

x=20-y

Substitute x=20-y in equation (2)

2.3(20-y)+1.9y=41.2
46-2.3y+1.9y=41.2
-0.4y=41.2-46=-4.8
y=(-4.8)/(-0.4)=12

y= 12
Substitute y= 12 in equation (1)

x+12=20
x=20-12=8
x=8

Red apples =8 pounds
Green apples =12 pounds