Algebra: Mixture Word Problems

Mixture problems are word problems where items or quantities of different values
are mixed together.
Sometimes different liquids are mixed together changing the concentration of the
mixture as shown in example 1, example 2 and example 3.
Sometimes quantities of different costs are mixed together as shown in example 4.
We recommend using a table to organize your information for mixture problems.
Using a table allows you to think of one number at a time instead of trying to handle
the whole mixture problem at once.
We will show you how it is done by the following examples of mixture problems:
Adding to the Solution Removing from the Solution
Replacing the Solution Mixing Quantities of Different Costs

Related Topics: More Algebra Word Problems

Adding To The Solution
Mixture Problems: Example 1:
John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution, How much salt should he add to make it
a 25% solution?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for salt.

original added result
concentration

amount

Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution. How much salt should he add to make it
a 25% solution?
The salt added is 100% salt, which is 1 in decimal.
Change all the percent to decimals
Let x = amount of salt added. The result would be 20 + x.

original added result
concentration
0.2 1 0.25
amount
20
x 20 + x
Step 3: Multiply down each column.

original added result
concentration 0.2 1 0.25
amount 20 x 20 + x
multiply 0.2 20 1 x 0.25(20 + x)
Step 4: original + added = result
0.2 20 + 1 x = 0.25(20 + x)
4 + x = 5 + 0.25x
Isolate variable x
x 0.25x = 5 4
0.75x = 1

Answer: He should add ounces of salt.
Removing From The Solution
Mixture Problems: Example 2:
John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution. How much water should he evaporate to
make it a 30% solution?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for water. The water is removed from the original.

original removed result
concentration

amount

Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution. How much water should he evaporate to
make it a 30% solution?
The original concentration of water is 100% 20% = 80%
The resulted concentration of water is 100% 30% = 70%
The water evaporated is 100% water, which is 1 in decimal.
Change all the percent to decimals.
Let x = amount of water evaporated. The result would be 20 x.

original removed result
concentration
0.8 1 0.7
amount
20
x 20 x
Step 3: Multiply down each column.

original removed result
concentration 0.8 1 0.7
amount 20 x 20 x
multiply 0.8 20 1 x 0.70(20 x)
Step 4: Since the water is removed, we need to subtract
original removed = result
0.8 20 1 x = 0.70(20 x)
16 x = 14 0.7x
Isolate variable x
x 0.7x = 16 14
0.3x = 2

Answer: He should evaporate 6.67 ounces of water
Replacing The Solution
Mixture Problems: Example 3:
A tank has a capacity of 10 gallons. When it is full, it contains 15% alcohol. How
many gallons must be replaced by an 80% alcohol solution to give 10 gallons of 70%
solution?
Solution: Step 1: Set up a table for alcohol. The alcohol is replaced i.e. removed and
added.

original removed added result
concentration

amount

Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
A tank has a capacity of 10 gallons. When it is full, it contains 15% alcohol. How
many gallons must be replaced by an 80% alcohol solution to give 10 gallons of 70%
solution?
Change all the percent to decimals.
Let x = amount of alcohol solution replaced.

original removed added result
concentration
0.15 0.15 0.8 0.7
amount
10
x x
10
Step 3: Multiply down each column.

original removed added result
concentration 0.15 0.15 0.8 0.7
amount 10 x x 10
multiply 0.15 10 0.15 x 0.8 x 0.7 10
Step 4: Since the alcohol solution is replaced, we need to subtract and add.
original removed + added = result
0.15 10 0.15 x + 0.8 x = 0.7 10
1.5 0.15x + 0.8x = 7
Isolate variable x
0.8x 0.15x = 7 1.5
0.65x = 5.5

Answer: 8.46 gallons of alcohol solution needs to be replaced
Mixing Quantities Of Different Costs
Mixture Problems: Example 4:
How many pounds of chocolate worth $1.20 a pound must be mixed with 10 pounds
of chocolate worth 90 cents a pound to produce a mixture worth $1.00 a pound?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for different types of chocolate.

original added result
cost

amount

Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
How many pounds of chocolate worth $1.20 a pound must be mixed with 10 pounds
of chocolate worth 90 cents a pound to produce a mixture worth $1.00 a pound?
Let x = amount of chocolate added.

original added result
cost
0.9 1.2 1
amount
10
x x + 10
Step 3: Multiply down each column.

original added result
cost 0.9 1.2 1
amount 10 x x + 10
multiply 0.9 10 1.2 x 1 (x + 10)
Step 4: original + added = result
0.9 10 + 1.2 x = 1 (x + 10)
9 + 1.2x = x + 10
Isolate variable x
1.2x x = 10 - 9
0.2x = 1

Answer: 5 pounds of the $1.20 chocolate needs to be added.
Algebra: Distance Problems
Distance problems are word problems that involve the distance an object will travel
at a certain average rate for a given period of time.
The formula for distance problems is: distance = rate time or d = r t
Things to watch out for:
Make sure that you change the units when necessary. For example, if the rate is
given in miles per hour and the time is given in minutes then change the units
appropriately.
It would be helpful to use a table to organize the information for distance problems.
A table helps you to think about one number at a time instead being confused by the
question.
We will show you how distance problems are solved by the following examples:
Traveling At Different Rates
Traveling In Different Directions
Given Total Time
Wind and Current Problems

Related Topics: More Algebra Word Problems
Distance Problems: Traveling At Different Rates
Example:
A bus traveling at an average rate of 50 kilometers per hour made the trip to town in
6 hours. If it had traveled at 45 kilometers per hour, how many more minutes would
it have taken to make the trip?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a rtd table.
r t d
Case 1
Case 2
Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
A bus traveling at an average rate of 50 kilometers per hour made the trip to town in
6 hours. If it had traveled at 45 kilometers per hour, how many more minutes would
it have taken to make the trip?
Let t = time to make the trip in Case 2.
r t d
Case 1 50 6
Case 2 45 t
Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt
r t d
Case 1 50 6 50 6 = 300
Case 2 45 t 45t
Step 4: Since the distances traveled in both cases are the same, we get the equation:
45t = 300
Isolate variable t

Step 5: Beware - the question asked for how many more minutes would it have
taken to make the trip, so we need to deduct the original 6 hours taken.

Answer: The time taken would have been 40 minutes longer.
Example:
This motion problem (or distance rate time problem or uniform rate problem)
involves traveling in the same direction, solving for "how long" one moving object
traveling until it meets up with the second moving object. It uses d = rt (distance
equals rate times time).
Distance Problems: Traveling In Different
Directions
Example:
A bus and a car leave the same place and traveled in opposite directions. If the bus is
traveling at 50 mph and the car is traveling at 55 mph, in how many hours will they
be 210 miles apart?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a rtd table.
r t d
bus
car
Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
If the bus is traveling at 50 mph and the car is traveling at 55 mph, in how many
hours will they be 210 miles apart?
Let t = time when they are 210 miles apart.
r t d
bus 50 t
car 55 t
Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt
r t d
bus 50 t 50t
car 55 t 55t
Step 4: Since the total distance is 210, we get the equation:
50t + 55t = 210
105t = 210
Isolate variable t

Answer: They will be 210 miles apart in 2 hours
Distance Problems: Given Total Time
Example:
John took a drive to town at an average rate of 40 mph. In the evening, he drove
back at 30 mph. If he spent a total of 7 hours traveling, what is the distance traveled
by John?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a rtd table.
r t d
Case 1
Case 2
Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
John took a drive to town at an average rate of 40 mph. In the evening, he drove
back at 30 mph. If he spent a total of 7 hours traveling, what is the distance traveled
by John?
Let t = time to travel to town.
7 t = time to return from town.
r t d
Case 1 40 t
Case 2 30 7 t
Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt
r t d
Case 1 40 t 40t
Case 2 30 7 t 30(7 t)
Step 4: Since the distances traveled in both cases are the same, we get the equation:
40t = 30(7 t)
Use distributive property
40t = 210 30t
Isolate variable t
40t + 30t = 210
70t = 210

Step 5: The distance traveled by John to town is
40t = 120
The distance traveled by John to go back is also 120
So, the total distance traveled by John is 240
Answer: The distance traveled by John is 240 miles.