Problema Solution

I have 25 coins in my pocket all of which are 5 cent or 20 cent coins. If their total value is $2.90 how many 5 cent coins do I have

Answer provided by our tutors

1. Simply form 2 equations that represent this scenario.

5x + 20y = 290

x + y = 25

where x and y are the number of 5 cents and 20 cents coins respectively.

Now just solve the simultaneous equations,

Rearranging equation 2 gives,

x= 25 - y

Substituting into equation 1 gives,

5(25-y) + 20y = 290

125 - 5y + 20y = 290

15y = 290 - 125

y = 165/15

y = 11 So you have eleven 20 cents coins.

Plugging this back into equation 2 gives,

x + 11 = 25

x = 25 - 11

x = 14 So you have fourteen 5 cents coins.