Question 158450
Hi, Hope I can help,
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I have no idea how to set up this problem! Once the equation is set up i know how to solve it. Do you have any suggestions concerning word problems? 
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HERE'S THE EQUATION...
A coin purse contains an equal number of nickels, dimes and quarters. The total amount of money in the purse is 680 cents. How many nickels are in the coin purse? 
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This is how you set it up, since there are an equal number of each coin, we really only have one variable "x"(number of each coin
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It tells us the value in the purse, we have to know the value of each coin(25 cents = quarter, 10 cents = dime, 5 cents = nickels)
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To find the value of each coin that is in the purse, we multiply the value of the coin, by the number of coins(examples: five quarters will have a value of {{{ (number -of- coins)(value- of- the- coin) }}} = {{{ (5)(25) }}} = {{{ 125 }}} cents, seven nickels will have a value of {{{ (number- of- coins)(value- of- the-coin) }}} = {{{ (7)(5) }}} = {{{ 35 }}} cents)
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In our case, the values of each coin are 
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Quarters = {{{ (number -of- coins)(value- of- the- coin)}}} = {{{ (x)(25) }}} = {{{ 25x }}}
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Dimes = {{{ (number -of- coins)(value- of- the- coin)}}} = {{{ (x)(10) }}} = {{{ 10x }}}
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Nickels = {{{ (number -of- coins)(value- of- the- coin)}}} = {{{ (x)(5) }}} = {{{ 5x }}}
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If we add all of our values(25x,10x,5x) together, it will come up with a total value of 680 cents
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Our equation = {{{ 25x + 10x + 5x = 680 }}}, now we can solve for "x"
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{{{ 25x + 10x + 5x = 680 }}} = {{{ 40x = 680 }}}, to get "x" we will divide each side by "40"
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{{{ 40x = 680 }}} = {{{ 40x/40 = 680/40 }}} = {{{ x = 17 }}}
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There are 17, of each coin,
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you can check by replacing "x" with "17" in our equation
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{{{ 25x + 10x + 5x = 680 }}} = {{{ 25(17) + 10(17) + 5(17) = 680 }}} = {{{ 425 + 170 + 85 = 680 }}} = {{{ 680 = 680 }}} ( True )
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your answer is {{{ 17 }}}
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Hope I helped,Levi