Story Problem

Question

The newspaper carrier has 2.70 in change. He has 3 more quarters than dimes but 3 times as many nickels as quarters. How many coins of each type does he have?

Answer 1

n: number of nickels

 

d: number of dimes

 

q: number of quarters

 

From the problem, we have

 

q = d + 3

 

n = 3q

 

5n + 10d + 25q = 270

 

Since we can relate both nickels and dimes to quarters,

 

d = q - 3

 

5(3q) + 10(q-3) + 25q = 270

 

 

Solve for q in the last equation.

 

15q + 10q -30 + 25q = 270

 

50q = 300

 

q = 6

 

So, n = 18 and d = 3.