Question

Maya has three times as many dimes as nickels. And all she has $1.40. How many coins of each type does she have

Answer 1

Let's use the variable "d" to represent the number of dimes Maya has, and "n" to represent the number of nickels.

If she has three times as many dimes as nickels, we have:

`d=3n`

Then, if the total value she has is $1.40, we have:

(Each dime is worth $0.10 and each nickel is worth $0.05)

`0.1d+0.05n=1.4`

Substituting the value of "d" from the first equation in the second one, we have:

`\begin{gathered} 0.1\cdot(3n)+0.05n=1.4 \\ 0.3n+0.05n=\text{1}.4 \\ 0.35n=1.4 \\ n=(1.4)/(0.35) \\ n=4 \end{gathered}`

Now, finding the value of "d", we have:

`\begin{gathered} d=3n \\ d=3\cdot4 \\ d=12 \end{gathered}`

So Maya has 12 dimes and 4 nickels.