If there was $42.35 in nickels and dimes and there were 3 times as many dimes as nickels how many of each type of coin was collected?

Question

A youth organization collected nickels and dimes for a charity drive. By the end of the 1st day drive the youth had collected 42.35, If there were 3 times as many dimes as nickels how many of each type of coin was collected?

Answer 1

Let x = the number of nickels collected.  Therefore, 3x = the number of dimes collected.  

 

.05x + .10(3x) = 42.35

 

Simplify:

.05x + .3x = 42.35

 

Combine like terms:

.35x = 42.35

 

Divide both sides by .35

x = 121 and 3x = 363

 

121 nickels = $6.05

363 dimes = $36.30

 

Total amount = $42.35

Answer 2

Hi Brandon;

x=quantity of nickles

3(0.10)x+(0.05)x=42.35

0.30x+0.05x=42.35

0.35x=42.35

Let's divide both sides by 0.35 as we proceed to isolate x...

(0.35x)/0.35=42.35/0.35

x=121

 

121 nickles

363 dimes

 

Let's check our work...

121(0.05)+363(0.10)=42.35

6.05+36.30=42.35

42.35=42.35