College

A supplier sells [tex]2 \frac{1}{4}[/tex] pounds of mulch for every [tex]1 \frac{1}{3}[/tex] pounds of gravel. The supplier sells 172 pounds of mulch and gravel combined.

How many pounds of each item does the supplier sell?

Answer :

Sure, let's work through the problem step-by-step:

First, we need to understand the relationship between the mulch and the gravel. The supplier sells:
- [tex]\( 2 \frac{1}{4} \)[/tex] pounds of mulch for every [tex]\( 1 \frac{1}{3} \)[/tex] pounds of gravel.

To make calculations easier, we'll convert these mixed numbers to improper fractions and then to decimals:
- [tex]\( 2 \frac{1}{4} = 2 + \frac{1}{4} = 2.25 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( 1 \frac{1}{3} = 1 + \frac{1}{3} = 1.3333 \)[/tex]

Given that the combined weight of mulch and gravel is 172 pounds, let's define:
- [tex]\( x \)[/tex] = pounds of gravel
- [tex]\( y \)[/tex] = pounds of mulch

From the information above, we know:
1. [tex]\( y = 2.25x \)[/tex]
2. [tex]\( x + y = 172 \)[/tex]

Substitute [tex]\( y \)[/tex] from the first equation into the second equation:
[tex]\[ x + 2.25x = 172 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 3.25x = 172 \][/tex]

Next, solve for [tex]\( x \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ x = \frac{172}{3.25} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ x = 52.92307692307692 \][/tex]

This is the number of pounds of gravel.

Now, calculate [tex]\( y \)[/tex] using the first equation:
[tex]\[ y = 2.25 \times 52.92307692307692 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ y = 119.07692307692307 \][/tex]

So, the supplier sells:
- Approximately 52.92 pounds of gravel
- Approximately 119.08 pounds of mulch

These are the weights of gravel and mulch respectively, based on the given conditions.