Help?!?! A chemist has two alloys, one of which is 5% gold and 25% lead and the other which is 20% gold and 40% lead. How many grams of each of the two alloys should be used to make an alloy that contains 32 g of gold and 136 g of lead?

Question

satellite73 · Answer

i hate word problems, don't you?

satellite73 · Answer

they probably want you to solve $$.05x+.20y=32\
.25x+.40y=136$$

satellite73 · Answer

easier if you get rid of the annoying decimals and solve $$5x+20y=3200\
25x+40y=13600$$

satellite73 · Answer

you know how to do that?

candycanegone · Answer

no :( it's been a while

satellite73 · Answer

choice one
multiply the first equation straight across by $-2$ then  add to the second equations
the y term will go bye bye

satellite73 · Answer

choice two (what i would do) skip this donkey work and let the computer do it http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=5x%2B20y%3D3200,+25x%2B40y%3D13600

candycanegone · Answer

lol thank you!