ALLIGATION

(Lat. alligo, I bind,OT tie together.) A rule of Arithmetic, for the solution of questions concerning the compounding or mixing together of different ingredients, or ingredients of different qualities. There are two cases, one of which is alligation medial, and the other alligation alternate. To the first case belongs a question of this sort: Suppose 4 gallons of wine at 12 shillings per gallon, to be mixed with 6 gallons at 17 shillings per gallon, what is the worth of a gallon of the mixture. But if it were asked, how many gallons of wine, at 17 shillings per gallon, must be mixed with 4 gallons at 12 shillings per gallon, in order that the worth of a gallon of the mixture may be 15 shillings, the question would belong to alligation alternate. Questions of this kind are, however, most easily resolved by elementary algebra; of which they form an easy cla of indeterminate problems, admitting in general of an indefinite number of solutions. [s. 46]