Solution:

Let x = Number of litres of 40% solution.

y = Number of litres of 80% solution.

Since the final solution is of 2 litres, we can write

x+y=2 ……………………… (1)

That’s our first equation.

Now x litre of solution has 40% alcohol which means (40/100) x = 0.4x

And y litre of solution has 80% alcohol which means (80/100) y = 0.8y

Final solution is of 2 litre and has 50% alcohol which means (50/100)*2 = 0.5*2 = 1 litre

Since the sum of amount of alcohol in the first 2 solution must be equal to the amount of alcohol

in the final solution we can write

0.4x + 0.8y = 1 ……………………….(2)

That’s our second equation.

Hence the system of linear equation is

x+y=2 ……………………… (1)

0.4x + 0.8y = 1 ……………………….(2)

These two equations can be solved by putting the value of y from equation 1 to equation 2.

If we shift x to right hand side in equation 1 we are left with

y=2–x

We can put this value of y in equation 2

0.4x + 0.8(2 – x) = 1
By simplifying this we get

0.4x + 1.6 – 0.8x = 1

1.6 – 0.4x = 1

Shifting the constant term on one side and variable term on other side we get

1.6 – 1 = 0.4x

0.6 = 0.4x

x = (0.6/0.4)

x = 3/2 = 1.5

Now putting the value of x in equation 1 we get

1.5 + y = 2

y = 2 – 1.5

y = 0.5

Therefore,

Number of litres of 40% alcohol solution = x = 1.5 litres

Number of litres of 80% alcohol solution = y = 0.5 litres