Mixture Word Problems - Different Costs or Concentrations

Mixture problems are word problems where items or quantities of different values are mixed together.

We recommend using a table to organize your information for mixture problems. Using a table allows you to think of one number at a time instead of trying to handle the whole mixture problem at once.

Mixing Quantities Of Different Costs or Different Concentrations

Example:

How many pounds of chocolate worth $1.20 a pound must be mixed with 10 pounds of chocolate worth 90 cents a pound to produce a mixture worth $1.00 a pound?

Solution:

Set up a table for different types of chocolate.

 

Mixture Problems
Some word problems using systems of equations involve mixing two quantities with different prices. To solve mixture problems, knowledge of solving systems of equations. is necessary. Most often, these problems will have two variables, but more advanced problems have systems of equations with three variables. Other types of word problems using systems of equations include rate word problems and work word problems.

Mixing Quantities Of Different Costs
Example: At the Grind House, Honduran coffee sells for $8.00 per pound and Costa Rican coffee sells for $11.50 per pound. If one pound of the Central American Blend coffee contains 0.4lb Costa Rican coffee and 0.6lb Honduran coffee, how much should one pound sell for?

Mixing Quantities Of Different Concentration
Example: How many liters of a 10% salt solution should be added to 80 liters of a 35% salt solution to obtain a mixture that is a 30% salt solution?

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Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

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