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How many ways can a person with four nickels, three dimes, and 2 quarters make a $.65 purchase
from a machine ?
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Notice that 4 nickels + 3 dimes = 4*5 + 3*10 = 50 cents.
It means, that one or two quarters must participate.
If two quarters participate, then the remaining 15 cents can be comprised of
EITHER 1 nickel and 1 dime
OR 3 nickels,
giving 2 possible combinations.
If only one quarter does participate, then the remaining 65-25 = 40 cents
can be comprised of
EITHER 4 nickels and 2 dimes,
OR 2 nickels and 3 dimes,
giving another 2 possible combinations.
So, in all, there are 2 + 2 = 4 possible combinations to make a 65 cents purchase WITHOUT HAVING a change.
Solved and explained.