Final answer:
Mary has 15 nickels and 20 dimes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's solve this problem step-by-step:
- Let's assume the number of nickels as N and the number of dimes as D.
- According to the given information, the value of the nickels is 0.05N and the value of the dimes is 0.10D.
- The total amount collected is $2.75, so we can write the equation:
According to the second piece of information, ten less than twice the number of nickels represents the number of dimes. So, we can write another equation:
We now have a system of two equations with two variables:
- 0.05N + 0.10D = 2.75
- D = 2N - 10
Solve the system of equations to find the values of N and D.Substitute the value of D from the second equation into the first equation:
- 0.05N + 0.10(2N - 10) = 2.75
Expand and simplify the equation:
- 0.05N + 0.20N - 1 = 2.75
- 0.25N - 1 = 2.75
- 0.25N = 3.75
- N = 3.75/0.25
- N = 15
Substitute the value of N into the second equation to find the value of D:
- D = 2(15) - 10
- D = 30 - 10
- D = 20
Therefore, Mary has 15 nickels and 20 dimes.: