Question

The ratio of dimes to quarters in a money bag is 2:14. if the total numbers of coins is 48, how many quarters are there?

Answer 1

There are 42 quarters (and 6 dimes).

Explanation:

The given ratio is 2:14. But this does not tell us how many dimes nor how many quarters we have. Instead, it's a ratio. Modify this by multiplying numerator and denominator by n and then find n:

Number of dimes 2n

----------------------------- = -----

Number of quarters 14n

Then the total number of coins is 2n + 14n =48, implying that:

16n = 48, or n = 3.

Then the number of dimes is 2(n) = 2(3) = 6, and that of quarters is 14(n) =

14(3) = 42.

There are 42 quarters (and 6 dimes). Notice how the total of 42 and 6 is 48.