Thread: Simple Problem

Q. Clock brass consists of 64.25% copper, 34% zinc and 1.75% lead. A manufacturer has an unlimited supply of copper and lead but has only 50kg of zinc. How much closs brass can he make?

Simple problem but I just can't get the answer.

Please show your working out and don't just give the answer.
Thanks.

I think you are missing a piece of information. What is the mass of each clock brass.

You will want to set up a proportion.

So =

Then you cross multiply to get = x

So x 158.82353 and there is your answer.

Originally Posted by JoshHJ

You will want to set up a proportion.

So =

Then you cross multiply to get = x

So x 158.82353 and there is your answer.

Edit:
My bad, I misread the problem.

you cross multiplied wrong
It should be
= x
x=147

OK I get it now. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Linnus

Edit:
My bad, I misread the problem.

you cross multiplied wrong
It should be
= x
x=147

Hah, yeah. It's getting too late, and I have no idea where the 54 came from.