let the number of quarter be x and that of nickels be y
total number of coins will be:
x+y=85
thus
x=85-y.........i
total amount of money will be:
0.25x+0.05y=14.25....ii
substituting i in ii we get:
0.25(85-y)+0.05y=14.25
21.25-0.25y+0.05y=14.25
7=0.2y
y=7/0.02
y=35
thus
x=85-35=50
the number of quarters was 50 and that of nickels was 35