by RonPurewal Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:34 am
mixture problems work in the same way as RTD problems; the equation, in this case, is (% fat) x (total gallons) = (gallons of fat). the % works like a rate, the total gallons like a time, and the gallons of fat like a distance.
set up a chart, in which the rows are (% fat), (total gallons), and (gallons of fat).
first row: 0.01, x, 0.01x
second row: 0.02, y, 0.02y
third row: 0.03, z, 0.03z
TOTALS row: 0.015, (x + y + z), (0.01x + 0.02y + 0.03z) -- notice that both of the "gallons" columns add, but the percentages DON'T add.
therefore, 0.015(x + y + z) = 0.01x + 0.02y + 0.03z
the rest of the problem is as posted above.
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you can also pick numbers; i can show detail of this method if you like.
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gallons of fat! yummy!