A shop will sell a mixture of almonds and cashews. Almonds cost $2.50 per pound and cashews cost $3.25 per pound. The shop will make 80 pounds of the mixture and sell it for $2.95 per pound. How many pounds of almonds should they use?

32 pounds of almonds

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the number of pounds of almond be a while that of cashews be c

we want to make a total of 80 pounds

Thus;

a + c = 80 ••••••••(i)

Furthermore;

Let us work with the costs

Costs of a pounds of almonds will be ;

a * 2.5 = 2.5a

cost of c pounds of cashews

c * 3.25 = 3.25c

Total cost at which they sell will be 80 * 2.95 = 236

Thus;

3.25c + 2.5a = 236 •••••(ii)

From i, c = 80-a

Put this into ii

3.25(80-a) + 2.5a = 236

260-3.25a + 2.5a = 236

0.75a= 24

a = 24/0.75

a = 32