SOLUTION: A purse contains a collection of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. The average value of the coins in the purse is 17 cents. If a penny is removed from the purse, the average v

Question 285547: A purse contains a collection of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. The average value of the coins in the purse is 17 cents. If a penny is removed from the purse, the average value of the coins becomes 18 cents. How many nickels are in the purse?
(A) 2 (B) 5 (C) 0 (D) 1 (E) 8
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The average value would be
(total value)/(number of coins)
Let = number of quarters
Let = number of dimes
Let = number of nickels
Let = number of pennies
given:
(1) (in cents)
(1)
and

(2)
Comparing (1) and (2) I can say

Subtract from both sides

Going back to (1),
(1)
(1)
(in cents)
There must be coins, making cents
I know there must be at least pennies
and there could be or pennies
There can't be quarters, since that adds to cents
There can't be quarters either, since dime and
nickel make -too much
Suppose there are quarters, dime, nickel,
and pennies
That makes , but coins
and I can't make up cents with more coin
I'm guessing there are quarters -you can figure out the rest

RELATED QUESTIONS
A purse contains a collection of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. The average value (answered by scott8148)

A purse contains a collection of quaters, dimes, nickels,and pennies.Thwe average value... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

A change purse contains an equal number of pennies, nickels, and dimes. The total value... (answered by ikleyn)

a change purse contains only quarters and dimes. There are 15 coins in the purse. the... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

Paula can have pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters in her purse. The average value of... (answered by josmiceli)

A purse contains $3.25 in quarters, dimes, and nickels. The purse contains twice as many (answered by jorel555)

A change purse contains an equal number of pennies, nickels, and dimes. The total value... (answered by ramkikk66)

Value of Coins- a change purse contains an equal number of pennies,nickels, and dimes.... (answered by richwmiller,nerdybill)