Lianne has nineteen coins worth $1.45. Some coins are dimes & the rest are nickels. How many dimes does she have.

Question

I understand the D + N = 19 & the 10D + 5N = 145, but I don't understand how you'd subtract them from each other?

Answer 1

I answered that same question last night
divide the second equation by 5
2d + n = 29, now put the first underneath it
d + n = 19

subtract
d + 0 = 10
so there were 10 dimes, and from the first equation n=9
so there were 9 nickels

check: is 10+9 = 19 ? yes
value: 10 dimes = $1.00
9 nickels = 0.45
totol $1.45

Answer 2

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