Help with this word problem?

Question

What r the steps in solving this problem?

The Fussy Foods Deli serves a simple fruit salad with strawberries and bananas. If strawberries cost $2.30 per pound and bananas cost $.30 per pound, how many pounds of strawberries and how many pounds of bananas should be used to make a 5 pound blend that costs $1.70 per pound?

Answer 1

S + B = 5

Represents the number of pounds

2.30S + .30B = 1.70(5)

Represents the cost for 5 pounds

Solve the first equation for S.

S = 5 - B

Substitute into the second

2.30(5 - B) + .30B = 1.70(5)

Distribute

11.50 - 2.30B + .30B = 8.50

Combine Like Terms

11.50 - 2B = 8.50

Subtract 11.50

-2B = -3

B = 1.5

There are 1.5 lbs of bananas

Substitute into one of the original equations.

s + 1.5 = 5

Subtract 1.5

s = 3.5 lbs.

There are 3.5 lbs. of strawberries

Answer 2

{(2.30 - 1.70) / (2.30 - .30)} (5) = bananas

{.60 / 2.00} (5) = 3 / 2 or 1 1/2 pounds bananas.

Therefore 3 1/2 pounds strawberries.

This shortcut found from 7 years of math tutoring experience.

Answer 3

The basic equation is
# of mix salad x price of mix salad= sum (weight of each component x price of each component)
Let bananas be Z lbs
Let strawberries be 5-Z.
We know all the prices, so
5 x $ 1.70 = 0.3 Z + 5-Z x $ 2.30. Solve for Z and 5-Z.

Answer 4

let strawberry weight in lb be s
let banana weight in lb be b
Then

b + s = 5
2.30s + 0.30b = 5(1.70)
230s + 30b = 850
Substitute b = 5-s
then 230s + 30(5-s) = 850
23s - 3s = 85 - 15
20s = 70
s = 3.5
hence b = 1.5

Mix 3.5 lb strawberry to 1.5 lb banana