professor baker wants to mix a solution containing 15% acid with one containing 20% acid to obtain a 25-ounce solution containing 16% acid. How many ounces of the 15% solution should the professor use?

Answer 1

Let x be the number of ounces of the 15% solution that Professor Baker should use.

The amount of acid in the 15% solution is 0.15x ounces.
The amount of acid in the 20% solution is 0.2(25-x) ounces.

The amount of acid in the final 16% solution should be 25*0.16 = 4 ounces.

So, we can set up the equation:
0.15x + 0.2(25-x) = 4

Solving for x:
0.15x + 5 - 0.2x = 4
-0.05x = -1
x = 20

Therefore, Professor Baker should use 20 ounces of the 15% solution.