A=%b problem

JERRY GRAHAM

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Joined
Feb 18, 2006
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Problem: A chemist has 5 gallons of sulfuric acid. He needs a solution that is 85% sulfuric acid. How much water does he need to to produce the solution needed?
:oops: I just can't remember how to do this.
 
Thanks for the reply, but visiting the site didn't help. Right now all I can think is that if I have 85% sulfuric acid, I need 15% water. I don't know the formula for telling me how many gallons that is.
 
Hello, Jerry!

A chemist has 5 gallons of sulfuric acid.
He needs a solution that is 85% sulfuric acid.
How much water does he need to to produce the solution needed?

He will add \(\displaystyle x\) gallons of water.

The total solution will contain \(\displaystyle x\,+\,5\) gallons of which 85% is acid.

That is: \(\displaystyle \,85\%\,\text{of}\,x\,+\,5\.\) is the original 5 gallons of acid.

Our equation is: \(\displaystyle \:0.85(x\,+\,5)\:=\:5\)
 
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