Question 1162245:  Kelly has a collection of nickels, dimes, and quarters with a total value of $6.10. There are four more nickels than dimes and twice as many quarters as nickels. How many of each coin is in her collection? 
 Found 3 solutions by  Theo, greenestamps, MathTherapy: Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! n = number of nickels, d = number of dimes, q = number of quarters. 
the value of a nickel is.05, the balue of a dime is .1, the value of a quarter is .25 
.05 * n + .1 * d + .25 * q = 6.10 
n = d + 4 
q = 2 * n 
you want to make all values in terms of nickels. 
from n = d + 4, you get d = n - 4 
you already  have q = 2 * n 
the equation of .05 * n + .1 * d + .25 * q = 6.10 becomes: 
.05 * n + .1 * (n - 4) + .25 * (2 * n) = 6.10 
simplify to get: 
.05 * n + .1 * n - .4 + .5 * n = 6.10 
combine like terms to get: 
.65 * n - .4 = 6.10 
add .4 to both sides of the equation to get: 
.65 * n = 6.5 
solve for n to get: 
n = 10 
since d = n - 4, then d = 6 
since q = 2 * n, then q = 20 
you have 10 nickels, 6 dimes, and 20 quarters. 
their total value is 10 * .05 + 6 * .1 + 20 * .25 = 6.10. 
10 nickels, 6 dimes, and 20 quarters is your solution. 
 
 Answer by greenestamps(13214)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
  
Take the time to set up the problem using a single variable.  Blindly plunging into solving the problem using three variables will make more work for you.
  
The given information compares nickels to dimes and quarters to nickels.  That is a clue that almost certainly it will be easiest to set up the problem using the number of nickels as the variable.
  
x = number of nickels 
x-4 = number of dimes  [the number of nickels is 4 more than the number of dimes] 
2x = number of quarters  [there are twice as many quarters as nickels]
  
The total value is $6.10, or 610 cents:
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
ANSWER: 
nickels: x = 10 
dimes: x-4 = 6 
quarters: 2x = 20
  
CHECK: 
10(5)+6(10)+20(25) = 50+60+500 = 610
  
Solving problems like this using mental arithmetic and logical reasoning can be good mental exercise.  It might go something like this:
  
Loan Kelly 4 more dimes, so that the numbers of nickels and dimes are the same.  The total value is now 610+40 = 650.
  
The coins now consist of a number of nickels, an equal number of dimes, and twice that many quarters.  A group of one nickel, one dime, and two quarters together has a value of 65 cents.
  
Since the new total value of the coins is 650 cents, that must mean there are 10 of those groups -- making 10 nickels, 10 dimes, and 20 quarters.
  
Now have Kelly give you back the 4 dimes you loaned her, to find that the coins she has are 10 nickels, 6 dimes, and 20 quarters.
  
 
 Answer by MathTherapy(10557)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! Kelly has a collection of nickels, dimes, and quarters with a total value of $6.10. There are four more nickels than dimes and twice as many quarters as nickels. How many of each coin is in her collection? 
Let the number of nickels be N 
Then number of dimes = N - 4, and number of quarters: 2N 
We then get: .05N + .1(N - 4) + .25(2N) = 6.1 
.05N + .1N - .4 + .5N = 6.1 
.65N = 6.1 + .4 
.65N = 6.5 
Number of nickels, or   
You should now be able to find the number of dimes, and quarters.  
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