SOLUTION: If Jamie has 3 more quarters than nickels and they have a combined value of 255 cents, how many of each coin does she have?

For a minute, put these 3 extra quarters aside.


Then you have in total  255 - 3*25 = 255 - 75 = 180 cents,

and the number of quarters in the updated collection is exactly equal to the number of nickels.



Hence, you may group coins in sets, where each set contains 1 nickel and 1 quarters.


Each the set is worth 25+5 cents = 30 cents and the number of these groups is   = 6.


It gives you an answer: 6 nickels and 6+3 = 9 quarters.