SOLUTION: Show all possible combinations of coins and bills that can be used to make $5.25. (We have tried making a chart and have more than 50 combinations so far and we know that we'r

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Coins -> SOLUTION: Show all possible combinations of coins and bills that can be used to make $5.25. (We have tried making a chart and have more than 50 combinations so far and we know that we'r      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 699619: Show all possible combinations of coins and bills that can be used to make $5.25.

(We have tried making a chart and have more than 50 combinations so far and we know that we're not even close to finding all the possible solutions. Is there a formula we can use to let us know how many combinations there are?)
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


No formula. You have to do just what you are doing. The trick to making sure that you get all of the combinations is to do the work in a logically structured way.

Make your chart with column headings in descending order of denomination of bills then coins and then list, starting with acceptable numbers of the highest denominations, all of the possible combinations: 

   $5   $1   50¢   25¢   10¢   5¢   1¢

    1    0    0     1     0    0    0
    1    0    0     0     2    1    0
    1    0    0     0     2    0    5
    1    0    0     0     1    3    0
    1    0    0     0     1    2    5
    1    0    0     0     1    1   10
    1    0    0     0     1    0   15
    1    0    0     0     0    5    0
    1    0    0     0     0    4    5
    1    0    0     0     0    3   10
    1    0    0     0     0    2   15
    1    0    0     0     0    1   20
    1    0    0     0     0    0   25
    0    5    0     1     0    0    0
    0    5    0     0     2    1    0
    0    5    0     0     2    0    5
    0    5    0     0     1    3    0
    0    5    0     0     1    2    5
    0    5    0     0     1    1   10
    0    5    0     0     1    0   15
    0    5    0     0     0    5    0
    0    5    0     0     0    4    5
    0    5    0     0     0    3   10
    0    5    0     0     0    2   15
    0    5    0     0     0    1   20
    0    5    0     0     0    0   25
    0    4    2     1     0    0    0
    0    4    2     0     2    1    0
    0    4    2     0     2    0    5
    0    4    2     0     1    3    0
    0    4    2     0     1    2    5
    0    4    2     0     1    1   10
    0    4    2     0     1    0   15
    0    4    2     0     0    5    0
    0    4    2     0     0    4    5
    0    4    2     0     0    3   10
    0    4    2     0     0    2   15
    0    4    2     0     0    1   20
    0    4    2     0     0    0   25
    0    4    1     3     0    0    0
    0    4    1     2     2    1    0

***

And so on until you get to 525 pennies.

You have A LOT of work to do. Ask your teacher/instructor/professor if you are allowed to eliminate the 50¢ column since half dollars are no longer commonly used. You might want to inquire as to whether you are supposed to consider $1 coins separately from $1 bills. Personnally, I would stick pins into a voodoo doll likeness of my professor if I received such an assignment -- but that is just me.

John

Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
The Out Campaign: Scarlet Letter of Atheism