# Thread: Coin Problem: She has three times as many nickels as dimes

Yolanda had three times as many nickels as dimes. If the total value of her coins was $1, how many of each kind of coin did she have. Work has to be shown. Thanks 2. ## Re: coin problems Originally Posted by josh brown Work has to be shown 3. Yolanda had three times as many nickels as dimes. If the total value of her coins was$1, how many of each kind of coin did she have. Work has to be shown.
Thanks

The first thing to do is "name things". Look to see what it is you are trying to determine. In problems such as this be sure to recognize there is a difference between the number of coins and the value of coins.

Since you are trying to find the number of coins, your naming of things might be...

Let x be the number of dimes.
If you want to use one equation with one variable, then you must name the number of nickels in terms of number of dimes. In this case it says you have 3 times as many nickels as dimes. Therefore...
The number of nickels is 3x.

Now write an equation using information in the problem, stating that something is equal to something else. In this case use the statement "the total value of her coins was $1". In other words, the value of the nickels plus the value of the dimes is equal to the total value of the dimes and the nickels. In building your equation recognize that "value" is different than "number" of coins. If one dime is worth 10 cents, then 4 dimes is worth 4 times 10 cents. If 1 quarter has a value of$0.25, then q quarters has a value of $0.25q. I leave the rest to you. If you need more help, show us what you have done so far so we can see where you are stuck. Good luck. 4. Originally Posted by josh brown Yolanda had three times as many nickels as dimes. If the total value of her coins was$1, how many of each kind of coin did she have.
This one works very much like the other 'coin' problem you posted.

Eliz.

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