Answer: So the trick I was taught to use was PEMDAS which stands for Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction. You solve the parenthesis first, followed by exponents if there are any. Multiplication and division are equal. So if there's multiplication and division in the problem, you solve the one closest to the left or start of the equation first. The same rules apply for addition and subtraction. They are both equal so you solve the first one first, even if the subtraction is before the addition.
Let's x the number of dimes 44-x the number of nickels
0.10*x+0.05*(44-x)=3.10 ==>10x+5*(44-x)=310 ==>10x-5x=310-5*44 ==>5x=90 ==>x=18 There are 18 dimes and 44-18=26 nickels having a value of 26*$0.05=$1.30
Simply plot the point (-5,1) and draw in a line with a slope of -1. Take the slope of this line and the point it crosses the y-axis and use them to set up slope intercept form.