There are 20 nickels and 16 quarters
Solution:
Let "n" be the number of nickels
Let "q" be the number of quarters
We know that,
1 nickel = 0.05 dollar
1 quarter = 0.25 dollar
Gabby has a bag containing 36 nickels and quarters
Therefore,
n + q = 36
n = 36 - q ------- eqn 1
The total value of the coins is $5
Thus we frame a equation as:
number of nickels x 1 nickel + number of quarters x 1 quarter = 5
[tex]n \times 0.05 + q \times 0.25 = 5[/tex]
0.05n + 0.25q = 5 ------- eqn 2
Substitute eqn 1 in eqn 2
0.05(36 - q) + 0.25q = 5
1.8 - 0.05q + 0.25q = 5
0.2q = 3.2
q = 16
Substitute q = 16 in eqn 1
n = 36 - 16
n = 20
Thus there are 20 nickels and 16 quarters
