Answer:
8 quarters
12 nickels
12 pennies
16 dimes
Step-by-step explanation:
The trick is to ASSUME the dimes.
Start by thinking about the three explicit premises and the one implicit premise.
1) Quarters = 1/6 of total coins
2) Nickels = 1.5 the number of quarters
3) Pennies = 1/4 of total coins
Also, ASSUME an unknown number of dimes to fill in the gap.
48 Total Coins = $4.32
⅙ of 48 = 8 8 quarters = $2.00
1.5 x 8 = 12 12 nickels = $0.60
¼ of 48 = 12 12 pennies = $0.12
Add those coins = $2.72
Take the known total and minus this sum.
$4.32 - $2.72 = $1.60
16 dimes = $1.60
Thus, you have the following:
8 quarters (⅙ of total coins) $2.00
12 nickels (1.5 the number of quarters) $0.60
12 pennies (¼ the number of total coins) $0.12
+ 16 dimes $1.60
Total Coins 48 $4.32
(anything to the power of 0 is 1)
(You subtract the powers: 0 - 3 = -3)