algebra word problem

Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
6
YIKES> can someone help on this problem...i am not good at word problems.

Low Fat Yogurt. Ziggy's Famous Yogurt blends regular yogurt that is 3% fat with its no-fat yogurt to obtain low-fat yogurt that is 1% fat. How many pounds of regular yogurt and how many pounds of no-fat yogurt should be mixed to obtain 60 pounds of low-fat yogurt???
 
Are you saying your teacher gave you that monstrous problem,
and explained absolutely nothing as to how to solve :?:
 
dazed&confusedonalgeb said:
YIKES> can someone help on this problem...i am not good at word problems.

Low Fat Yogurt. Ziggy's Famous Yogurt blends regular yogurt that is 3% fat with its no-fat yogurt to obtain low-fat yogurt that is 1% fat. How many pounds of regular yogurt and how many pounds of no-fat yogurt should be mixed to obtain 60 pounds of low-fat yogurt???
1) Name Stuff
2) Equate Something.

Y0 = Pounds of No Fat Yogurt
Y3 = Pounds of 3% Fat Yogurt

The problem statement says Y0 + Y3 = 60

Equate Fat

Y0 * 0.00 + Y3 * 0.03 = 60 * 0.01
Y0 + Y3 = 60
You should be able to solve that for Y0 abd Y3.

Equate Yogurt

Y0 * 1.00 + Y3 * 0.97 = 60 * 0.99
Y0 + Y3 = 60
You should be able to solve that for Y0 abd Y3

No need to be dazed or confused. Take a shot a deliberate and consistent. :)
 
dazed&confusedonalgeb said:
YIKES> can someone help on this problem...i am not good at word problems.

Low Fat Yogurt. Ziggy's Famous Yogurt blends regular yogurt that is 3% fat with its no-fat yogurt to obtain low-fat yogurt that is 1% fat. How many pounds of regular yogurt and how many pounds of no-fat yogurt should be mixed to obtain 60 pounds of low-fat yogurt???

There shouldn't be any "YIKES" about this......

Let x = pounds of 3% fat yogurt
Let y = pounds of no-fat (that would be 0% fat) yogurt

You are going to end up with a total of 60 pounds. So,
x + y = 60

The amount of fat in 60 pounds of 1% fat yogurt is 1% of 60 pounds, or 0.01(60) pounds. Where did that fat come from? Well, there was NO fat in the y pounds of 0% fat yogurt. And in x pounds of 3% fat yogurt, there is 3% of x pounds, or 0.03x pounds.

Fat in 3% yogurt + fat in 0% yogurt = fat in 1% mixture
0.03x + 0.00(y) = 0.01(60)

Now, you've got two equations in two variables. But look CAREFULLY at that second equation (maybe it is easier to solve than it looks!!)
x + y = 60
0.03x + 0.00y = 0.01(60)

I hope this helps you.
 
Top