<PRE><B>Question 546135</B>
&lt;br&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Tahoma&quot;&gt;This is a problem involving a system of linear equations.&lt;br&gt;

Let N be our number of nickels.&lt;br&gt;

Let D be our number of dimes.&lt;br&gt;

Then we know:&lt;br&gt;

{{{.05*N+.10*D=0.85}}}  and  {{{N-2=D}}}&lt;br&gt;

Let&#39;s get rid of the decimals in the first equation by multiplying by 100:&lt;br&gt;

{{{5N+10D=85}}}&lt;br&gt;

Let&#39;s substitute the left side of our second equation in for D in the first equation:&lt;br&gt;

{{{5N+10*(N-2)=85}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{5N+10N-20=85}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{15N-20=85}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{15N=105}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{N=7}}}&lt;br&gt;

Then we can substitute this value back into our second equation:&lt;br&gt;

{{{N-2=D}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{7=2=D}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{D=5}}}&lt;br&gt;

Therefore, we have 7 nickels and 5 dimes, for a total of $0.85.&lt;br&gt;

I hope this helps!  :)&lt;br&gt;</PRE>