A grocer wants to mix two kinds of coffee.One kind sells for $1.45 per pound,and other sells for 2.20 Per pound. He wants to mix a total of 21 pounds and sell it for 1.70Per pound.

A grocer wants to mix two kinds of coffee. One kind sells for $\$$ 1.45 per pound, and other sells for $\$$ 2.20 per pound. He wants to mix a total of 21 pounds and sell it for $\$$ 1.70Per pound. How many pounds of each kind should he use in the new mix? (ROund off the answers to the nearest hundredth)

Detailed Solution:

Given that there are two kinds of coffee.

Let us say that “X pounds” of coffee is sold at $\$$ 1.45 per pound.

Therefore the cost of the “X pounds” of coffee is $\$$ 1.45*X

The other kind of coffee “Y” pounds” is sold at $\$$ 2.20 per pound.

Therefore the cost of “Y pounds” of coffee would be $\$$ 2.20*Y.

Since there are two variables X and Y, we need to frame two equations in X and Y to solve them.

Given that the grocer wants to mix two kinds of coffee and the total weight of the mixture is 21 pounds.

Hence the first equation can be

X+Y = 21——–>Equation1

We are also given that the total cost of the mixture is $\$$ 1.70 per pound.

The cost of 21 pounds of the mixture would be 21*1.7=35.7

Hence the second equation would be

1.45X+2.20Y=35.7 ——–> Equation 2

Solving the equations 1 and 2:

X+Y = 21–>Equation1

1.45X+2.20Y=35.7 –> Equation 2

From the equation1, we can say that Y = 21-X.

Let us substitute this new value of Y = 21-x in the second equation 1.45X+2.20Y =1.7

1.45X+2.20(21-x) =35.7

1.45X+46.2-2.2X=35.7

-0.75X =35.7-46.2

-0.75X=-10.5

Therefore X= $\dfrac {-10.5}{-0.75}$

X=14 pounds

Therefore the value of Y would be Y= 21-X=21-14

Y= 7 Pounds

Therefore, the grocer needs to mix 14 pounds of coffee which sells for $\$$ 1.45 and 7pounds of coffee which sells for $\$$ 2.20 pounds.

Verification:

We can cross-check the answers we got for the X =14 and Y =7 values.

When the values of X and Y are plugged back into the original equations, they must hold good.

Let us take up the equation1

x+y=21

14+7=21

21=21.Therefore, the solutions we arrived work for the Equation1

Let us cross-check with the equation2.

1.45X+2.2Y =35.7

1.45(14)+2.2(7) =35.7

20.3+15.4=35.7

Therefore, the solutions we arrived work for the Equation2 as well.

FREE Math Help forum

Got a troubling math question?

No worries…CLICK HERE to post your question in “Free Math Help Forum” under a relevant category.

We will send the step by step solution to your e-Mail straight away once posted.