Expert: Abe Mantell - 6/1/2009

Question
Tim and Tom mix 2 kinds of feed for pedigreed dogs they wish to make 22 pounds of feed worth .44 per pound by mixing one kind worth .22 per pound with another worth .50 per pound how many pounds of the cheaper kind should they use in the mix round to the nearest whole number.

Answer
Hello Donna,

Let x=# of pounds of the cheaper feed used, so then
22-x=# of pounds of the other feed used (since the total is 22 pounds)

22 pounds at 0.44 per pound will be cost 22*0.44=9.68

So, the total cost of each must be 9.68:
0.22x + 0.50(22-x)=9.68, now solve for x.
==> 0.22x + 11 - 0.50x = 9.68
==> -0.28x = -1.32
==> x = 1.32/0.28 = 33/7 or about 4.7143 pounds of the cheaper feed.

OK?

Abe