Final answer:
In the short story "The Gift of the Magi," the value of the coins can be expressed as quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. The equation representing the value of the coins is 50 + 10 + 5 + 2 = 67 cents. It is not possible to have exactly 60 pennies in $1.87.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation representing the value of the coins in the short story "The Gift of the Magi" can be simplified by expressing the value of quarters, dimes, and nickels. We need to analyze the first sentences of the story to determine the values of the coins.
According to the story, Della has saved one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy a gift for her husband. The first sentence states, "One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all." Here, the value of the coins can be expressed as:
- Quarters: 2 quarters = 50 cents
- Dimes: 1 dime = 10 cents
- Nickels: 1 nickel = 5 cents
- Pennies: 2 pennies = 2 cents
So the equation representing the value of the coins is 50 + 10 + 5 + 2 = 67 cents.
It is not possible to have exactly 60 pennies in $1.87 because 60 pennies would equal 60 cents, which is less than a dollar. Therefore, it is not possible to have exactly 60 pennies in $1.87.