plz answer this mixture problem

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:42 pm
Thanked: 1 times

plz answer this mixture problem

by jagdeep » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:11 pm
i always get confused in this
q: solution is 90% glycerin . I f there are 4 gallons of solution then how much water in gallons must be added to make a 75% glycerin solution

a)1.8 b)1.4 c)1.2 d) 1.o e) 0.8
Source: — Problem Solving |

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:05 am
Thanked: 5 times
GMAT Score:640

by nikilnikil » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:22 pm
4*10% + x*100%
______________ = 25%
4+x


cross multiply,
.4 + x = 1 + .25x

.75x = .6
x = .6/.75

so, x = .8


Method is simple. First , use only percentage of water or percentage of solution throughout the solution.

problem states: solution is 90% glycerin . I f there are 4 gallons of solution then how much water in gallons must be added to make a 75% glycerin solution

so, solution of 4 gallons contain 10% water and 90% glycerin. Since, we want to add additional water , let the entire equation be based on water.

so, (10%*4 + 100%* x) / (4+x) = 25% solution of water [ because we want a solution containing 75 % glycerine and 25%water.

Weighted average. So, divide the solution in numerator with total solution ( 4+x)

Cross multiply, you will get the answer.

Regards,
Nik

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:42 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by jagdeep » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:27 pm
thanks a lot nik, it was so simple
thanks gain for telling me exact way to solve this
nikilnikil wrote:4*10% + x*100%
______________ = 25%
4+x


cross multiply,
.4 + x = 1 + .25x

.75x = .6
x = .6/.75

so, x = .8


Method is simple. First , use only percentage of water or percentage of solution throughout the solution.

problem states: solution is 90% glycerin . I f there are 4 gallons of solution then how much water in gallons must be added to make a 75% glycerin solution

so, solution of 4 gallons contain 10% water and 90% glycerin. Since, we want to add additional water , let the entire equation be based on water.

so, (10%*4 + 100%* x) / (4+x) = 25% solution of water [ because we want a solution containing 75 % glycerine and 25%water.

Weighted average. So, divide the solution in numerator with total solution ( 4+x)

Cross multiply, you will get the answer.

Regards,
Nik

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:23 pm
Location: Israel
Thanked: 3 times
GMAT Score:640

by Leon1984 » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:32 pm
The easiest way it to work with solid numbers. 90% out of 4 gallons is 3.6 gallons of glicerin. Now, you want this amount to be 75% or 3/4 of something. This means, that 3.6 is 3 quarters, and one quarter is 1.2. So what we need is just add another quarter, or 1.2 galons. HOWEVER! this is to be added to glicerin only, and since we have water left, we add this 1.2 disregarding the water, i.e 3.6+1.2=4.8 and since we have a total of 4 gallons, we need to add only 0.8.

Check: what is 3/4 or 75% of 4.8 gallons? ans- 3.6

Hope this helps.
Leon

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2009 4:43 pm
Thanked: 22 times
GMAT Score:710

by palvarez » Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:20 pm
jagdeep wrote:i always get confused in this
q: solution is 90% glycerin . I f there are 4 gallons of solution then how much water in gallons must be added to make a 75% glycerin solution

a)1.8 b)1.4 c)1.2 d) 1.o e) 0.8
The tricky part: translating water as 0 percent glycerin. Once ya get it right, everything goes smooth.

0======= 90
===75=====

15: 75 = 1:5


5 parts = 4 gallons
1 part = 4/5 = 0.8 gallons

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:52 am
Thanked: 3 times

by aspirant1 » Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:33 pm
am not able to get this equation (10%*4 + 100%* x) / (4+x) = 25% .......specifically 100%*x

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:55 am

by MG368 » Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:21 am
this is how i did this problem:

90% of 4 gallons =3.6

so, now 3.6/ 4+x * 100%= 75%

where x = amount of water added, the glycerine amount will remain the same.

so x= 0.8

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:05 am
Thanked: 5 times
GMAT Score:640

by nikilnikil » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:48 pm
am not able to get this equation (10%*4 + 100%* x) / (4+x) = 25% .......specifically 100%*x


Hello Aspirant1,

This is similar to weighted average.

see in the numerator 10% of 4 gallons will give you the content of water in 4 gallons
and 100% of x gallons will contain total water which has to be mixed with the original solution.

When you divide it by (4+X) it is nothing but weighted average of the entire solution which is equivalent to 25% water solution.

Hope this clears your doubt.

~Nik

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 126
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:12 pm
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 2 times
GMAT Score:510

by ssuarezo » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:48 am
Hi:

Another easy way: Rule of 3:

If we want 3.6 to be the 75%, how much is 25%
So, x=3.6*.25/.75 = 1.2, but 0.4 already there, so x=0.8

Silvia