Priyaranjan wrote:A feed store sells two varieties of birdseed: Brand A which is 40% millet and 60% sunflower, and Brand B, which is 65% millet and 35% sunflower. If a customer purchases a mix of the two types of birdseed that is 50% millet, what percent of the mix is Brand A?
A's millet percentage: 40%.
B's millet percentage: 65%.
Millet percentage in the mixture: 50%.
The following approach is called ALLIGATION -- a very efficient way to handle MIXTURE PROBLEMS.
Step 1: Plot the 3 percentages on a number line, with the percentages for A and B on the ends and the percentage for the mixture in the middle.
A 40%-----------50%-----------65% B
Step 2: Calculate the distances between the percentages.
A 40%----
10-----50%----
15-----65% B
Step 3: Determine the ratio in the mixture.
The required ratio of A to B is equal to the RECIPROCAL of the distances in red.
A:B = 15:10 = 3:2.
Since A:B = 3:2, every 5 pounds of mixture is composed of 3 pounds of A and 2 pounds of B.
Thus:
A/total = 3/5 = [spoiler]60%[/spoiler].
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