Arthro is making 5 pounds of snack mix from raisins and almonds. the raisins cost $3 per pound, and the almonds cost $8 per pound. he wants the cost of the snack mix to be $6.50 per pound. how many pounds of each item should he use?

This is a system of equations problem.

Let r = pounds of raisins

and a = pounds of almonds

We know that r + a = 5. this is our first equation

The second one is more tricky, 3r + 8a = 6.5*5

Now solve:

r = 5 - a

3 (5 - a) + 8a = 6.5*5

15 - 3a + 8a = 32.5

5a = 17.5

a = 3.5

r = 5 - 3.5

r = 1.5

He should use 3.5 pounds of almonds and 1.5 pound of raisins