Answer:
98 pounds
Step-by-step explanation:
Let A be pounds of A-type coffee and B be pounds of B-type coffee.
We can set-up two equations and solve simultaneously.
"This month, Hong made 170 pounds of the blend":
[tex]A+B=170[/tex]
"Type A coffee costs Hong $5.75 per pound, and type B coffee costs $4.10 per pound ... a total cost of $858.70":
[tex]5.75A+4.10B=858.70[/tex]
Now we can multiply first equation by -5.75 and then ADD UP this new equation and equation 2 to get B. We have:
[tex](-5.75)*(A+B=170)\\-5.75A-5.75B=-977.5[/tex]
Now solving for B:
[tex]-5.75A-5.75B=-977.5\\5.75A+4.10B=858.70\\-------------\\-1.65B=-118.8\\B=72[/tex]
B = 72
Now plugging in this value into B of original first equation and solving for A gives us:
[tex]A+B=170\\A+72=170\\A=170-72\\A=98[/tex]
Thus, he used 98 pounds of Coffee A.