QuestionSelect the correct answer.
Kevin has in nickels and dimes. If he has 34 fewer dimes than nickels, how many coins (nickels and dimes) does he have altogether?
A. 74 coins
B. 75 coins
C. 76 coins
D. 77 coins
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking? How many nickels and dimes does Kevin have if he has total, and fewer dimes than nickels? Watch out! Don't mix up the values of nickels ( cents) and dimes ( cents)!
STEP 2
1. Set up variables and equation
2. Solve for the number of nickels
3. Solve for the number of dimes
4. Calculate the total number of coins
STEP 3
Let be the number of **nickels** and be the number of **dimes**.
We know a nickel is worth , and a dime is worth .
STEP 4
We're told Kevin has in total.
We can write this as an equation:
This equation represents the **total value** of his coins.
STEP 5
We also know he has fewer dimes than nickels.
Mathematically, this means:
This equation relates the **number** of nickels and dimes.
STEP 6
Now, let's **substitute** the second equation into the first equation.
This way, we get an equation with only one variable, :
STEP 7
**Distribute** the :
STEP 8
**Combine** the terms:
STEP 9
**Add** to both sides of the equation:
STEP 10
**Divide** both sides by to find : So, Kevin has ** nickels**!
STEP 11
We know , and we just found that .
Let's **substitute** into this equation:
Kevin has ** dimes**!
STEP 12
To find the total number of coins, we simply **add** the number of nickels and dimes:
STEP 13
Kevin has a total of coins.
So the correct answer is C.
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