Chapter 4: Linear Systems

World Problems Using Linear Systems

Systems of linear equations

and inequalities have a
number of interesting real-
world applications to
explore. The following word
problems are designed to
give you a peak into their
various uses.

Problem 1: Imagine you are a chemist attempting to produce a batch of isopropyl alcohol
(rubbing alcohol). First you must create a mixture of propene and sulfuric acid in a device called
an “absorber” to produce sulfate esters. For the mixture, you require a solution of 70% sulfuric
acid (meaning 7 parts sulfuric acid diluted by 3 parts water). However, the lab at which you
work only carries sulfuric acid concentrated at 99% and 15%. If you are looking to create 100
mL of 70% sulfuric acid, how much of both the 99% and 15% concentrations should you
combine to produce your desired solution?
 Chapter 4: Linear Systems

Problem 2: You will be flying out to Cleveland for a work trip next week, and are deciding
whether it would be cheaper to rent a car through the company “Enterprise Rent-a-Car” or to
simply Uber everywhere. Enterprise will charge you $52.26 per day for the car, with an
additional fee of $97.61. On the other hand, you estimate that an uber will cost you around
$75.27 per day if you ride about an hour each day. Write and graph (using a graphing calculator
or a website such as “desmos,” if available) a system of linear equations to model your two
options. At what point will the two options cost the same? Which option should you choose if
you stay in Cleveland for a week?
 Chapter 4: Linear Systems

Problem 3: You work at your local county fair, and are in charge of marketing and advertising
for the event. In order to create more successful advertisements, you want to find out more
about the demographics of the fair-goers, particularly the ratio of adults to children (so that you
can better understand your target audience). Tickets for the fair cost $10 for people 16 and
older, and $8 for people under 16. You find out that, on Saturday, 108 tickets were sold, and
$1,004 were made. How many of each type of ticket was sold? Based on this information alone,
towards what age group would it be wiser to target most of the fair’s advertising?
 Chapter 4: Linear Systems

Problem 4: You are considering renting a square plot of land near your house to start a garden,
and you have the option to choose the dimensions of the land you want (with larger plots
costing more, of course). You decide you want a plot at of at least 100 square feet in area.
However, because you have to pay for fencing, you don’t want to want the perimeter to exceed
60 feet. Write and graph (by hand) a system of inequalities to express the possible range of side
lengths of your plot that meet your criteria.

Learn More/Image URL

https://sciencing.com/10-can-used-everyday-life-8710568.html