In changing a $5, Marge received 9 more dimes than nickels and 7 fewer quarters than dimes. How many of each coin did she receive?
nickels=x
dimes=9+x
quarters= x-7 = 9+x-7 = x-2
x+9+x+x-2=?
3x+7=?
Not sure what the number should be that the equation equals. Would it be 500?
You can use one variable, as you did.
Number of nickels: x
Number of dimes: 9 + x
Number of quarters: 9 + x - 7, or x + 2, NOT x - 2 as you stated
Now, the equation becomes: , or
-------- MULTIPLYING by 20 to get rid of decimals
The first equation would equal 500 if you multiply it by 100, but that's unnecessary
since multiplying by 20 does the job of getting rid of the decimals
Solve for x, the number of nickels.
Add 9 to x to get the number of dimes
Add 2 to x to get the number of quarters.