Question

Alice has a total of 12 dimes and nickels. She has 2 more nickels than dimes

Answer 1

This is a problem of system of linear equations in two variables. This concept of mathematics is very useful in real-life problems. You can solve a system by finding the solution. A solution of a system are the values of the variables that satisfies each equation in the system. So by knowing these concepts we can get a system of equation by analyzing each statement step by step, that is:

1. Alice has a total of 12 dimes and nickels.

Let the variables:

$D: Dimes \\ N:Nickles$

1st. Equation:

$D+N=12$

2. She has 2 more nickels than dimes

2nd Equation:

$N=D+2$

Therefore our system of linear equations is:

$(1) \ D+N=12 \\ (2) \ N=D+2 \\ \\ Substituting \ (2) \ in \ (1): \\ D+(D+2)=12 \therefore 2D=10 \therefore D=5 \\ \\ Solving \ for \ N \ in \ (2): \\ N=5+2=7$

Conclusion:

Alice has 5 dimes and 7 nickels.