Question

jason has 150 cents nickels and quarters. if the number of nickels he has is 5 less than the twice the number of quarters, how many nickels does he have?

Answer 1

Let's set up some simultaneous equations. Let the number of nickels be n, and the number of quarters be q. Now I'm from England so I had to look up the value of a nickel (I could guess the quarter though to be 25c), but apparently it's 5c

Okay we know that the total value of the coins is 150. This gives:

25q + 5n = 150

Rearranging to make n the subject:

n = 30 - 5q

Next, we use the second statement:

n = 2q - 5

Substituting this into the first equation:

2q - 5 = 30 - 5q
7q = 35
q = 5

Putting this value for q into the first equation:

n = 30 - 5(5) = 5

Hence he has 5 of each coin. I hope this helps :)