SOLUTION: A coin bank contains only nickels and dimes. The total value of the coins in the bank is $3.50. If the nickels were dimes and the dimes were nickels, the total value of the coins w

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Question 1051865: A coin bank contains only nickels and dimes. The total value of the coins in the bank is $3.50. If the nickels were dimes and the dimes were nickels, the total value of the coins would be $2.50. Find the number of nickels in the bank.
Answer by ikleyn(52821) About Me  (Show Source):
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A coin bank contains only nickels and dimes. The total value of the coins in the bank is $3.50.
If the nickels were dimes and the dimes were nickels, the total value of the coins would be $2.50.
Find the number of nickels in the bank.
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Let n be the number of nickels and d be the number of dimes.

Then 

5n + 10d = 350 cents   (1)    ("The total value of the coins in the bank is $3.50. ")
10n + 5d = 250 cents   (2)    ("If the nickels were dimes and the dimes were nickels, the total value of the coins would be $2.50")

Cancel the factor 5 in both sides of both equations. You will get

n + 2d = 70            (3)
2n + d = 50            (4)

From (3), express n = 70-2d and substitute it into (4). You will get

2*(70-2d) + d = 50.

Simplify and solve for d:

140 - 4d + d = 50,  or

-3d = 50 - 140  --->  -3d = -90  --->  d = 30.

Thus the number of dimes is 30.

Then the number of nickels, from (3), is n = 70-2d = 70 - 2*30 = 10.

Check it on your own.

Answer.  30 dimes and 10 nickels.

There is entire bunch of the lessons on coin problems
    - Coin problems
    - More Coin problems
    - Solving coin problems without using equations
    - Kevin and Randy Muise have a jar containing coins
    - Typical coin problems from the archive
    - More complicated coin problems
in this site.

Read them and become an expert in solution of coin problems.

Also, you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I in this site
    - ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

It contains many other solved word problems, as well as many other interesting and useful things.