word problems: how many of which sort of coins?

[zhyia]

i need to figure out how to solve this problem
My piggy bank has 4 times as many pennies as nickels. It has 2 more nickels than dimes, and 2 less than 3 times as many quarters as dimes. The total number of coins is 35. Can I buy a large latte at Starbucks?
i know that a large latte at starbucks cost 3.45

 

[Denis]

Re: word problems

i need to figure out how to solve this problem
My piggy bank has 4 times as many pennies as nickels. It has 2 more nickels than dimes, and 2 less than 3 times as many quarters as dimes. The total number of coins is 35. Can I buy a large latte at Starbucks?
i know that a large latte at starbucks cost 3.45

let n = nickels ; then:
pennies = 4n : 4 times as many pennies as nickels
dimes = n-2 : It has 2 more nickels than dimes
quarters = 3(n-2) - 2 : 2 less than 3 times as many quarters as dimes
SO:
n + 4n + n-2 + 3(n-2) - 2 = 35

Finish it; if you can't, you need more help than you can get here...

 

[stapel]

Pick a variable for the number of nickels.

Write an expression, in terms of this variable, for the number of pennies.

Write another expression, in terms of the original variable, for the number of dimes.

Write a third expression, in terms of the second expression, for the number of quarters.

Sum the variable and the three expressions.

Set equal to "35".

Solve.

If you get stuck, please reply showing how far you have gotten. Thank you.

Eliz.

 

[zhyia]

n=5
4(5)=20
5-2=3
3(5-2)-2=7

for a total of 35

5 nickels
20 pennies
3 dimes
7 quarters=$2.50

a large latte at starbucks cost 3.34
so the answer is "no" i would not be able to buy a large latte at starbucks with the money i have in my penny bank...is this correct?