Question

A container contains only nickels and dimes. There are three times as many dimes as nickels. There is a total of $39.55 in the jar. Find how many DIMES are in the container?

A. 255
B. 165
C. 180
D. 150

Answer 1

.05n + .10d = 39.55

d = 3n--->n = d/3

.05(d/3) + .10d = 39.55

.05d + .30d = 118.65

.35d = 118.65

d = 339

Answer 2

To find the number of dimes in the container, we can set up a system of equations and solve for the number of nickels. The correct answer is D. 150.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this problem, we can set up a system of equations. Let's say the number of nickels in the container is N. Since there are three times as many dimes as nickels, the number of dimes would be 3N.

The value of the nickels can be represented as 0.05N and the value of the dimes as 0.10(3N) = 0.30N.

Using the information that there is a total of $39.55 in the jar, we can write the equation: 0.05N + 0.30N = 39.55. Solving for N, we find that N = 99.

Therefore, there are 99 nickels and 3 times that amount of dimes, which is 3(99) = 297 dimes in the container. So, the correct answer is D. 150.