# Material balance question

1. Sep 19, 2004

### jimithing

A paint mixture containing 25.0% pigment and the balance water sells for $18.00/kg, and a mixture containing 12.0% pigment sells for$10.00/kg. If a paint retailer produces a blend containing 17.0% pigment, for how much (\$/kg) should it be sold to yield a 10% profit?

Am I wrong, or are they lacking information (i.e. cost of production, etc.)
this is driving me nuts...

2. Sep 19, 2004

### faust9

I would say yes you are missing some information. How much profit is made on the 25% and 12% mixtures comes to mind and as you said production costs... You can make some assumptions like the 25% and 12% mixtures are sold at 10% profit or the like.

Well, good luck.

3. Sep 19, 2004

### jimithing

i assumed that the 25% and 12% mixtures were sold at cost, so i used
.25x + .75y = 18
and
.12x + .88y = 10

solved for x and y, then substituted into .17x + .83y = z
found z, multiplied by 1.1

hopefully thats what they're looking for

4. Sep 20, 2004

### Bystander

"Interactive math program"?