1. ## verbal problem

How do I make an equation for this? I always have trouble with these

Jose has a total of 28 dimes and quarters altogether. The total value of the coins is $4.15. How many quarters does Jose have? 2. Originally Posted by cristinaivelisse How do I make an equation for this? I always have trouble with these Jose has a total of 28 dimes and quarters altogether. The total value of the coins is$4.15. How many quarters does Jose have?
Let x be the number of dimes and let y be the number of quarters:

Then $x + y = 28$ ................................(1)

since he has the amount in dollars, try to write x and y in terms of dollars:

so,

$\frac{x}{10} + \frac{y}{4} = 4.15$....................(2)

(2) can be simplified as:

$\frac{4x+10y}{40} = 4.15 \Longrightarrow 4x+10y = 166$....................(3)

Note that the denominators in the above equation(2) denotes the number of coins that make a dollar. 10 dimes = $1 and 4 quarters =$1

Now can you solve equations (1) and (3) for the values of x and y???

you will have

19 dimes

9 quarters