A few days ago
Anonymous

Quick math help: is this the right equation?

Here’s the Problem:

A pharmacist is to prepare a 15mL solution of eye drops. The eye drop solution must have a 4% active ingredient, but the pharmacist only has 20% solution and 1% solution is stock. How many mL of each solution will he need?

I’m not asking anyone to do my homework, so please don’t take it that way, but I was wondering, is this the right equation for this type of problem? :

0.20x + 0.01y = 0.04(15)

Top 1 Answers
A few days ago
Anonymous

Favorite Answer

That is a correct equation if x is the number of ml. of 20% solution and y is the number of ml. of 1% solution.

To solve it, you need one further equation, as there are two unknowns x and y.

That comes from the fact that the volumes need to add up to 15ml.

Hence:

x + y = 15.

You can now say y = 15 – x, and susbstitute that in your first equation, so that you can solve for x.

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