SOLUTION: My daughter has to come up with 40 ways to make 48 cents using only 3 or 8 pennies. She has come up with 39 but can't figure out the last one.

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Question 878532: My daughter has to come up with 40 ways to make 48 cents using only 3 or 8 pennies. She has come up with 39 but can't figure out the last one.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The description might really be a counting-principles exercise, but I believe that the need for forty ways is wrong.

Using only 3 pennies puts certain restrictions on the number of nickels, dimes, and quarters. Using only 8 pennies puts certain restrictions on the number of nickels, dimes, and quarters.

Using a tree diagram approach to check possible combinations which give 48 cents will give far, far fewer than forty ways.