Let the number of fives be x Let the number of tens be y Value Value Type Number of of of of EACH ALL bill bills bill bills ------------------------------------------- fives x $5 $5x tens y $10 $10y ------------------------------------------- TOTALS 90 ----- $645 The first equation comes from the second column.x + y = 90 The second equation comes from the last column. 5x + 10y = 645 So we have the system of equations: . We solve by substitution. Solve the first equation for y: x + y = 90 y = 90 - x Substitute (90 - x) for y in 5x + 10y = 645 5x + 10(90 - x) = 645 5x + 900 - 10x = 645 -5x + 900 = 645 -5x = -255 x = 51 = the number of fives. Substitute in y = 90 - x y = 90 - (51) y = 39 tens. Checking: 51 fives is $255 and 39 tens is $390 That's 90 bills. And indeed $255 + $390 = $645 Edwin