Here's one approach:Three grades of milk: 1%, 2%, and 3% fat by volume. X gallons of 1%, y gallons of 2%, and z gallons of 3% are mixed to give x + y + z gallons of 1.5%. What is x in terms of y and z?
a. y + 3z
b. (y + z)/4
c. 2y + 3z
d. 3y + z
e. 3y + 4z
Let's start with a "word equation" and slowly turn it into an algebraic expression:
Total fat in mixture = 1.5% of (x+y+z)
(1% of x) + (2% of y) + (3% of z) = 0.015(x+y+z)
Rewrite as: 0.01x + 0.02y + 0.03z = 0.015x + 0.015y + 0.015z
Multiply both sides by 100: 1x + 2y + 3z = 1.5x + 1.5y + 1.5z
Rearrange and simplify: 0.5y + 1.5z = 0.5x
Multiply both sides by 2 to get: y + 3z = x
Answer = A
Cheers,
Brent
