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# Applications

Module by: Wade Ellis, Denny Burzynski. E-mail the authors

Summary: This module is from Elementary Algebra by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. Beginning with the graphical solution of systems, this chapter includes an interpretation of independent, inconsistent, and dependent systems and examples to illustrate the applications for these systems. The substitution method and the addition method of solving a system by elimination are explained, noting when to use each method. The five-step method is again used to illustrate the solutions of value and rate problems (coin and mixture problems), using drawings that correspond to the actual situation. Objectives of this module: become more familiar with the five-step method for solving applied problems, be able to solve number problems, be able to solve value and rate problems.

## Overview

• The Five-Step Method
• Number Problems
• Value and Rate Problems: Coin Problems Problems and Mixture Problems

## The Five-Step Method

When solving practical problems, it is often more convenient to introduce two variables rather than only one. Two variables should be introduced only when two relationships can be found within the problem. Each relationship will produce an equation, and a system of two equations in two variables will result.

We will use the five-step method to solve these problems.

1. Introduce two variables, one for each unknown quantity.
2. Look for two relationships within the problem. Translate the verbal phrases into mathematical expressions to form two equations.
3. Solve the resulting system of equations.
4. Check the solution.
5. Write a conclusion.

## Sample Set A (Number Problems)

### Example 1

The sum of two numbers is 37. One number is 5 larger than the other. What are the numbers?

Step 1: Let x = smaller number. y = larger number. Step 1: Let x = smaller number. y = larger number.

Step 2:  There are two relationships.
(a) The Sum is 37.
x+y=37 x+y=37
(b) One is 5 larger than the other.
y=x+5 y=x+5
{ x+y=37 y=x+5 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) { x+y=37 y=x+5 ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Step 3:   { x+y=37 y=x+5 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) { x+y=37 y=x+5 ( 1 ) ( 2 )
We can easily solve this system by substitution. Substitute x+5 x+5 for y y in equation 1.
x+( x+5 ) = 37 x+x+5 = 37 2x+5 = 37 2x = 32 x = 16 Then, y = 16+5 = 21. x = 16, y = 21 x+( x+5 ) = 37 x+x+5 = 37 2x+5 = 37 2x = 32 x = 16 Then, y = 16+5 = 21. x = 16, y = 21

Step 4:  The Sum is 37.
x+y = 37 16+21 = 37 Is this correct? 37 = 37 Yes, this is correct. x+y = 37 16+21 = 37 Is this correct? 37 = 37 Yes, this is correct.
One is 5 larger than the other.
y = x+5 21 = 16+5 Is this correct? 21 = 21 Yes, this is correct. y = x+5 21 = 16+5 Is this correct? 21 = 21 Yes, this is correct.

Step 5:  The two numbers are 16 and 21.

## Practice Set A

The difference of two numbers is 9, and the sum of the same two numbers is 19. What are the two numbers?

### Exercise 1

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

#### Solution

The two numbers are 14 and 5.

## Value And Rate Problems: Coin Problems Problems And Mixture Problems

The problems in Sample Sets B and C are value problems. They are referred to as value problems because one of the equations of the system used in solving them is generated by considering a value, or rate, or amount times a quantity.

## Sample Set B (Coin Problems)

A parking meter contains 27 coins consisting only of dimes and quarters. If the meter contains $4.35, how many of each type of coin is there? Step 1: Let D = number of dimes. Q = number of quarters. Step 1: Let D = number of dimes. Q = number of quarters. Step 2: There are two relationships. (a) There are 27 coins. D+Q=27. D+Q=27. (b) Contribution due to dimes = Contribution due to quarters = 10D+25Q=435 { D+Q=27 10D+25Q=435 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) 10D+25Q=435 { D+Q=27 10D+25Q=435 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) Step 3: { D+Q=27 10D+25Q=435 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) { D+Q=27 10D+25Q=435 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) We can solve this system using elimination by addition. Multiply both sides of equation ( 1 ) ( 1 ) by 10 10 and add. 10D10Q=270 10D+25Q=435 15Q=165 Q=11 Then, D+11=27 D=16 D=16,Q=11 10D10Q=270 10D+25Q=435 15Q=165 Q=11 Then, D+11=27 D=16 D=16,Q=11 Step 4: 16 dimes and 11 quarters is 27 coins. 10( 16 )+11( 25 ) = 435 Is this correct? 160+275 = 435 Is this correct? 435 = 435 Yes, this is correct. 10( 16 )+11( 25 ) = 435 Is this correct? 160+275 = 435 Is this correct? 435 = 435 Yes, this is correct. The solution checks. Step 5: There are 11 quarters and 16 dimes. ## Practice Set B ### Exercise 2 A bag contains only nickels and dimes. The value of the collection is$2. If there are 26 coins in all, how many of each coin are there?

#### Solution

There are 14 dimes and 12 nickels.

## Sample Set C (Mixture Problems)

### Example 3

A chemistry student needs 40 milliliters (ml) of a 14% acid solution. She had two acid solutions, A and B, to mix together to form the 40 ml acid solution. Acid solution A is 10% acid and acid solution B is 20% acid. How much of each solution should be used?

Step 1: Let x = number of ml of solution A. y = number of ml of solution B. Step 1: Let x = number of ml of solution A. y = number of ml of solution B.

Step 2:  There are two relationships.
(a) The sum of the number of ml of the two solutions is 40.
x+y=40 x+y=40

(b) To determine the second equation, draw a picture of the situation.

The equation follows directly from the drawing if we use the idea of amount times quantity.

Step 3: .10x+.20y=.14( 40 ) { x+y=40 .10x+.20y=.14( 40 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) { x+y=40 .10x+.20y=.14( 40 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) Step 3: .10x+.20y=.14( 40 ) { x+y=40 .10x+.20y=.14( 40 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) { x+y=40 .10x+.20y=.14( 40 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )
Solve this system by addition. First, eliminate decimals in equation 2 by multiplying both sides by 100.

{ x+y=40 10x+20y=14( 40 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) { x+y=40 10x+20y=14( 40 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 )
Eliminate x x by multiplying equation 1 by 10 10 and then adding.

10x10y=400 10x+20y=560 10y=160 y=16 Then,x+16=40 x=24 x=24,y=16 10x10y=400 10x+20y=560 10y=160 y=16 Then,x+16=40 x=24 x=24,y=16

Step 4:  24 ml and 16 ml to add to 40 ml.
10( 24 )+20( 16 ) = 560 Is this correct? 240+320 = 560 Is this correct? 560 = 560 Yes, this is correct. 10( 24 )+20( 16 ) = 560 Is this correct? 240+320 = 560 Is this correct? 560 = 560 Yes, this is correct.
The solution checks.

Step 5:  The student should use 24 ml of acid solution A and 16 ml of acid solution B.

## Practice Set C

### Exercise 3

A chemistry student needs 60 ml of a 26% salt solution. He has two salt solutions, A and B, to mix together to form the 60 ml solution. Salt solution A is 30% salt and salt solution B is 20% salt. How much of each solution should be used?

#### Solution

The student should use 36 ml of salt solution A and 24 ml of salt solution B.

## Exercises

### Exercise 4

The sum of two numbers is 22. One number is 6 more than the other. What are the numbers?

#### Solution

The two numbers are 14 and 8.

### Exercise 5

The sum of two numbers is 32. One number is 8 more than the other. What are the numbers?

### Exercise 6

The difference of two numbers is 12 and one number is three times as large as the other. Whatare the numbers?

#### Solution

The two numbers are 18 and 6.

### Exercise 7

The difference of two numbers is 9 and one number is 10 times larger than the other. Whatare the numbers?

### Exercise 8

Half the sum of two numbers is 14 and half the difference is 2. What are the numbers?

#### Solution

The numbers are 16 and 12.

### Exercise 9

One third of the sum of two numbers is 6 and one fifth of the difference is 2. What are the numbers?

### Exercise 10

A 14 pound mixture of grapes sells for $3.10$3.10 . Type 1 grape sells for 25¢ a pound and type 2 grape sells for 20¢ a pound. How many pounds of each type of grape were used?

#### Solution

6 pounds of Type 1 and 8 pounds of Type 2.

### Exercise 11

#### Solution

37 non-student tickets.

### Exercise 15

A chemistry student needs 22 ml of a 38% acid solution. She has two acid solutions, A and B, to mix together to form the solution. Acid solution A is 40% acid and acid solution B is 30% acid. How much of each solution should be used?

### Exercise 16

A chemistry student needs 50 ml of a 72% salt solution. He has two salt solutions, A and B, to mix together to form the solution. Salt solution A is 60% salt and salt solution B is 80% salt. How much of each solution should be used?

#### Solution

30 ml of 80% solution; 20 ml of 60% solution.

### Exercise 17

A chemist needs 2 liters of an 18% acid solution. He has two solutions, A and B, to mix together to form the solution. Acid solution A is 10% acid and acid solution B is 15% acid. Can the chemist form the needed 18% acid solution? (Verify by calculation.) If the chemist locates a 20% acid solution, how much would have to be mixed with the 10% solution to obtain the needed 2-liter 18% solution?

### Exercise 18

A chemist needs 3 liters of a 12% acid solution. She has two acid solutions, A and B, to mix together to form the solution. Acid solution A is 14% acid and acid solution B is 20% acid. Can the chemist form the needed 12% solution? (Verify by calculation.) If the chemist locates a 4% acid solution, how much would have to be mixed with the 14% acid solution to obtain the needed 3-liter 12% solution?

#### Solution

( a ) cannot form 12% solution; ( b ) 3 5  liter of 4% solution. ( a ) cannot form 12% solution; ( b ) 3 5  liter of 4% solution.

### Exercise 19

A chemistry student needs 100 ml of a 16% acid solution. He has a bottle of 20% acid solution. How much pure water and how much of the 20% solution should be mixed to dilute the 20% acid solution to a 16% acid solution?

### Exercise 20

A chemistry student needs 1 liter of a 78% salt solution. She has a bottle of 80% salt solution. How much pure water and how much of the 80% salt solution should be mixed to dilute the 80% salt solution to a 78% salt solution?

#### Solution

25 ml of pure water; 975 ml of 80% salt solution.

### Exercise 21

A parking meter contains 42 coins. The total value of the coins is $8.40$8.40 . If the meter contains only dimes and quarters, how many of each type are there?

### Exercise 22

A child’s bank contains 78 coins. The coins are only pennies and nickels. If the value of the coins is $1.50$1.50 , how many of each coin are there?

#### Solution

18 nickels; 60 pennies.

## Exercises For Review

### Exercise 23

((Reference)) Simplify x n+6 x 2 . x n+6 x 2 .

### Exercise 24

((Reference)) Find the product: ( 3x5 ) 2 . ( 3x5 ) 2 .

#### Solution

9 x 2 30x+25 9 x 2 30x+25

### Exercise 25

((Reference)) Find the difference: 2x1 x 2 +x6 x+2 x 2 +5x+6 . 2x1 x 2 +x6 x+2 x 2 +5x+6 .

### Exercise 26

((Reference)) Use the substitution method to solve { 4xy=3 2x5y=15 { 4xy=3 2x5y=15

( 0,3 ) ( 0,3 )

### Exercise 27

((Reference)) Use the addition method to solve { 3x+4y=7 4x5y=1 { 3x+4y=7 4x5y=1

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