document.write( "Question 19754: ms. lynch has 21 coins in nickle and dimes.Their total value is $1.65.How many of each coin does she have \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #9548 by mmm4444bot(95)\"\" \"About 
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Hello There:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Start by assigning variable names for the two unknown amounts that we are asked to find.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = number of nickels\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = number of dimes\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Each nickel is worth $0.05 and each dime is worth $0.10, so we can write an equation because we're told that their total is $1.65.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "0.05*x + 0.10*y = 1.65\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(The asterisks mean multiplication.)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We're also told that:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x + y = 21\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you don't like working with the decimal numbers in the first equation, then multiply both sides by 100 to get whole numbers.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5*x + 10*y = 165\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x + y = 21\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This is a system of two equations with two variables. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least five different ways to solve this system. You didn't ask any questions or tell us what method to use, so I'll just guess.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'm going to show you the \"substitution\" method. The strategy is to solve one of the equations for x, and then substitute the resulting expression for x in the other equation. This results in an equation with only one variable (for which we can solve easily).\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'll solve the second equation for x by subtracting y from both sides:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 21 - y\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now that we know 21 - y is the same as x, we substitute it for x in the first equation:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5*x + 10*y = 165\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5*(21 - y) + 10*y = 165\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "105 - 5*y + 10*y = 165\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5*y = 60\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = 12\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now that we know the value of y, we can find the value of x from our equation above:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 21 - y\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 21 - 12\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 9\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ms. Lynch has 9 nickels and 12 dimes. Let's check our result.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Is 9 + 12 equal to 21 coins? Yes, it is.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "9 nickels is $0.45, and 12 dimes is $1.20. Do these amounts add up to $1.65? Yes, they do. Our answer is correct.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "~ Mark
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