SOLUTION: A vending takes only nickels and dimes. There are 5 times as many dimes as nickels in the machine. The face value of the coins is $4.40. How many of each coin are in the machine?

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Question 352060: A vending takes only nickels and dimes. There are 5 times as many dimes as nickels in the machine. The face value of the coins is $4.40. How many of each coin are in the machine?
My father figured the answer out in his head, but he's not able to teach me how to translate the answer into an equation so I can figure future problems out by myself. Thank you very much for your help.
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A vending takes only nickels and dimes. There are 5 times as many dimes as nickels in the machine. The face value of the coins is $4.40. How many of each coin are in the machine?
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let the number of nickels in the machine be x
number of dimes = 5times the nickels = 5x
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the total value = $4.40
In cents it will be 440
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1 nickel is 5 cents: x nickels will be 5x cents
1 dime = 10 cents : 5x dimes = 50x cents
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The sum of these two = 50x+5x = 55x
which is equal to 440 cents
55x= 440
x=440/55
x= 8 the number of nickels.
dimes is 5 times the nickels . so dimes = 5*8 = 40 dimes.
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C H E C K
5*8 + 40*10 = 440 cents which is in the machine
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m.ananth@hotmail.ca