Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Practice Test

When mixing two liquids to achieve a desired concentration, what is the first step to determine the required ratios?

1. Calculate the total volume of the liquids

2. Identify the concentration of each liquid

3. Incorporate the temperature of the liquids

4. Assess the cost of each liquid

The correct answer is: Identify the concentration of each liquid

To determine the required ratios when mixing two liquids to achieve a desired concentration, the first step is to identify the concentration of each liquid. Understanding the concentration of the liquids involved is crucial, as it directly impacts how much of each liquid is needed to reach the target concentration. The concentration essentially informs the mixture's components, enabling a precise calculation of the required ratios based on the concentrations available. Once the concentrations are defined, it becomes possible to utilize formulas or methods, such as alligation or algebraic equations, to find out how much of each liquid should be used. Calculating the total volume of the liquids, incorporating the temperature, or assessing the cost of each liquid are important considerations that may come later in the process, but they don't establish the necessary foundation for determining ratios without first knowing the concentrations of the liquids being mixed.