document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1153376>Question 1153376</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Valerie has $1.30 in the bank. She has 4 fewer nickels than quarters. Write an equation to solve the problem. How many quarters does she have? How many nickels does she have? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #775599 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13209)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=775599\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Using two variables to solve the problem, as one of the other tutors did, almost always makes for more work.  Furthermore, the instructions say to solve the problem by writing AN (one) equation.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So, given that the number of nickels is4 less than the number of quarters, let x be the number of quarters and x-4 the number of nickels.  Then you have one equation that is easily solved to find the answer to the problem.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=25%28x%29%2B5%28x-4%29+=+130 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"25%28x%29%2B5%28x-4%29+=+130\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Note that if a formal algebraic solution is not required -- as in a competition where getting an answer fast is desirable -- the problem can be solved mentally with a few simple steps:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) Add 4 more nickels; now the total is 150 cents and the numbers of quarters and nickels are the same<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) One quarter and one nickel makes 30 cents<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3) To make 150 cents, you need 150/30 = 5 groups of one quarter and 1 nickel; that means 5 quarters and 5 nickels<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(4) Now take away the extra 4 nickels you added to get 130 cents using 5 quarters and 1 nickel.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: 5 quarters and 1 nickel.<br><BR>\n" );
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