Pure tin alloy was mixed with a 4% tin alloy to produce an alloy that was 16% tin. How much pure tin and how much 4% alloy were used to produce 32 kg of 16% alloy?

The answer is that 4 kg of pure tin and 28 kg of 4% tin alloy were used to produce the 16% alloy.

Let,

x = kg of pure 100% tin

and y = kg of 4% tin

x + y = 32

x = 32 - y

1.00 x + 0.04 y = 0.16 x 32

By solving the above system of equations we find:

Now put the value of x in the above equation;

1 x (32 - y) + 0.04 y = 5.12

32 - y + 0.04y = 5.12

y - 0.04y = 32 - 5.12

0.96y = 26.88

y = 26.88/0.96

y = 28 kg of 4% tin

Now put the value of y in x = 32 - y

x = 32 - 28

x = 4 kg of pure 100% tin