Question

Set up and solve a system of equations to solve the problem.

A jar contains n nickels and d dimes. There are 20 coins in the jar, and the total value of the coins is $1.50. How many nickels and how many dimes are in the jar?

The jar contains ___ nickels and ___ dimes.

Answer 1

10 nickels and 10 dimes

Answer 2

The jar contains 10 nickels and 10 dimes. Another answer is that the jar contains 4 nickels and 13 dimes.

Explanation:

1 nickels = 5 cents

1 dime = 10 cents

1st answer

10 nickels = $0.50

10 dimes = $1.00

So 10 nickels + 10 dimes = $1.50

2nd answer

13 dimes = $1.30

4 nickels = $0.20

So 13 dimes + 4 nickels = $1.50