If there are 4 fewer dimes than there are nickels,....

[shadylace]

Hello, I am having a hard time getting my head around this question. Could you help me?

Jim has $4.40 in nickels and dimes. If there are 4 fewer dimes than there are nickels, how many of each coin does Jim have?

 

[wjm11]

Hello, I am having a hard time getting my head around this question. Could you help me? Jim has $ 4.40 in nickels and dimes. If there are 4 less dimes than there are nickels, how many of each coin does Jim have?

Name things:
D = number of dimes
N = number of nickels

There are 4 less dimes than there are nickels:

D + 4 = N

$4.40 in nickels and dimes:

(.10)D + (.05)N = 4.40

Makes sense? Can you proceed from here?

 

[shadylace]

I am sorry... I can't seem to understand.

(.10)d + (.05)n = 4.40 right?
where do I go from here?

 

[wjm11]

Do a substitution for N in the second equation with the known relationship from the first equation:

(.10)D + (.05)N = 4.40
(.10)D + (.05)(D + 4) = 4.40

Solve for D, then use that information to solve for N.