Question 1166932: Lucy has 11 more dimes than pennies. She has $10.12 total. How many of each type of coin does she have? Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:Answer by josgarithmetic(39799) (Show Source):
The other tutor has shown one formal algebraic solution.
I personally prefer to set up problems using a single variable if it is easy to do so.
Let x be the number of pennies; the number of dimes is then x+11.
Now we have a single equation to solve, instead of a system of two equations.
ANSWER: x = 82 pennies and x+11 = 93 dimes
If your mental arithmetic is good, you can get the answer informally, using virtually the same calculations as above.
(1) Count the "extra" 11 dimes, with a total value of 110 cents.
(2) the remaining amount, 1012-110 = 902 cents, is made up of equal numbers of pennies and dimes.
(3) 1 penny and 1 dime together have a value of 11 cents.
(4) The number of groups at 11 cents each needed to make the remaining 902 cents is 902/11 = 82.
(5) So there are 82 pennies and 82+11=93 dimes.