Question 419588
"Cathy has $2.30 in dimes and quarters if the number of dimes is 5 less than the numbers of quarters, how many coins of each type does she have?"


x = number of quarters
x - 5 = number of dimes {number of dimes is five less than number of quarters}


25x + 10(x - 5) = 230 {value of each coin multiplied by number of coins equals total value}
25x + 10x - 50 = 230 {used distributive property}
35x - 50 = 230 {combined like terms}
35x = 280 {added 50 to both sides}
x = 8 {divided both sides by 35}
x - 5 = 3 {substituted 8, in for x, into x - 5}


8 quarters and 3 dimes
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