Expert: Scott A Wilson - 11/4/2009

Question
The feed company sells 1 ounce package containing a mixture of lettuce seeds.  Green stem seeds sell for $0.50 per ounce, and white wine seeds sell for $0.35 per ounce. 1 ounce mix package sells for $0.40.  How many ounces of each kind of seed are in the package.

Answer
Let p be the percentage in that one ounce package of green stem seeds.
This makes 1-p the percentage of white wine seeds.

The equation to solve is 0.50p + 0.35(1-p) = 0.40.

Multiply this out, getting 0.15p = 0.05, so p = 5/15 = 1/3.

This makes 1-p into 2/3.

This means we have 1/3 ounce of green stem seeds and 2/3 ounces of white wine seeds.