MIXTURE PROBLEMS

Example 1: A chemist wants to prepare a 10 liter - solution with 15% hydrochloric acid.
Find the number of liters each of 5% and 20% hydrochloric acid must be added to
obtain the desired solution.
Representation:
Let m = the number of liters of 5% hydrochloric acid
n = the number of liters of 20% hydrochloric acid
Equations: m + n = 10 Equation 1
5% m + 20% n = 15% Convert percentage to decimal.
(0.05m + 0.20n = 1.50) Multiply all terms by 100 to eliminate decimals.
5m + 20n = 150 Equation2
Solution: By Substitution
m + n = 10 m = -n + 10
m = -n + 10 m = -(6.67) + 10
5m + 20n = 150 m = 3.33
5(-n +10) + 20n = 150 Answer: There must be 3.33 liters of 15% and
-5n + 50 + 20n = 150 6.67 of 20% hydrochloric acid must be added
15n = 150 – 50 together.
15n = 100
n = 6. 67
Example 2: Juice is a mixture of fruit juices and soda. This is obtained by mixing 50% one
kind of fruit juice and 30% of another fruit juice to have a mixture with 100 liters, which
is 45% juice. How many liters of each fruit juice should be mixed?

Representation:
Let x = the number of liters of 50% fruit juice
y = the number of liters of 30% fruit juice
Equations: x + y = 100
50%x + 30%y = 45%(100)
[ 0.50x + 0.30y = 0.45(100)] 100
50x + 30y = 4500
Solution: x + y = 100
x = -y + 100
50x + 30y = 4500 x + y = 100
50(-y + 100) + 30y = 4500 x + 25 = 100
-50y + 5000y + 30y = 4500 x = 100 -25
-20y = 4500 – 5000 x = 75
-20y = -500
y = 25
Answer: There must be 25 liters of 30% fruit juice and 75 liters of 50% fruit juice to
obtain 100 liters mixture with 45% fruit juice.
 INVESTMENT PROBLEMS
Example 1: Mr. Callo has two investments. One of it pays 4% annual interest and
another pay 5% annual interest. The total annual interest from the two investments is
P24 500. How much is the amount of investment at each rate if his total investment is
P600 000?
Representation:
Let x = money invested at 4%
y = money invested at 5%
Equations: x + y = 600 000
4%x + 5%y = 24 500
0.04x + 0.05y = 24500
Solution: By Substitution x + y = 600 000
x + y = 600 000 x + 50 000 = 600 000
x = -y + 600 000 x = 600 000 – 50 000
0.04(-y + 600 000) + 0.05y = 24 500 x = 550 000
-0.04y + 24 000 + 0.05y = 24 500
0.01 y = 24 500 – 24 000
0.01y = 500
y = 50 000

Answer: The amount invested at 4% is P550 000 and P50 000 at 5%.
Example 2: Mrs. Valenzuela invested P30,000, part of it at 5% and another part at 8%.
Find the money invested at each rate if the total annual interest is P2 100.

Representation:
Let x = money invested at 5%
y= money invested at 8%

Equations: x+y = 30 000 Equation 1

0.05x + 0.08y = 2 100 Equation 2

Solution:
Step 1: x + y = 30 000 Equation 1
x = -y + 30 000

Step 2: 0.05x + 0.08y = 2 100 Equation 2

0.05(-y + 30 000) + 0.08y = 2 100
0.05y + 1 500 + 0.08y = 2 100
0.03y = 2 100 – 1 500
0.03y= 600
y= 20 000
Step 3:
x + y = 30 000
x + 20 000 = 30 000
x = 30 000 – 20 000
x = 10 000

Answer: The Amount invested at 5% was P10 000

and P20 000 at 8%.