a chemist needs 10 liters of a 25% acid solution. the solution is to be mixed from three solutions whose acid concentrations are 10% 20% 50% how may liters of each solution should the chmist use to satisfy the following?

Question

a use as little as possible of the 50% solution
b use as much as possible of the 50% solution
c use 2 liters of the 50% solution

Answer 1

let the amount of 50% solution be x L
let the amount of 20% solution by y L
let the amount of 10% solution be z or (10-x-y) L

then .1(10-x-y) + .2y + .5x = .25(10)

10-x-y + 2y + 5x = 25
y = -4x + 15 , relation (A)

also x+y ≤ 10 , relation (B)

so any (x,y) which satisfies both relations A and B will work

where do they intersect?
y = -4x + 15 with y = -x + 10
x = 5/3, then y = 25/3 , z = 0

notice the x intercept falls within (B)

let y=0, then x= 3.75 , z = 6.25

if x = 2 , then y = 7, and z = 1

50% . 20% . 10%

0 .. 15 .. not possible
5/3 . 25/3 ..0
15/4 . 0 ...25/4
2 ... 7 ... 1

a) for which of these is x as small as possible
b) for which of these is x as large as possible
c) when x = 2 , y = 7, z = 1