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 July 6th, 2009, 10:48 AM #1 Senior Member   Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 I think this is an algebra problem...let me know--thanks! Here is a logic problem that I tackled and because of the small numbers solved intuitively. 22 cents is distributed among ten students by means of nickels and pennies. How many nickels and how many pennies were distributed? I came up with three nickels and seven pennies. That's fine to do in my head because of the limited numbers, but isn't there an algebra equation for this involving "10," "22," if not also "5" and "1"? Let me know what you all think. Danke!
 July 6th, 2009, 01:01 PM #2 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 20,472 Thanks: 2039 If each student receives exactly one coin, the number of nickels is given by (22 - 10)/(5 - 1).
 July 6th, 2009, 02:07 PM #3 Senior Member   Joined: May 2008 From: Sacramento, California Posts: 299 Thanks: 0 Re: I think this is an algebra problem...let me know--thanks! Were each of the students given a certain amount of coins?
July 7th, 2009, 08:04 AM   #4
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OK, so would the equation be n = 22 - 10/ 5-1? And why subtract the number of students from the coin amount? Let me know, thanks.

Quote:
 Originally Posted by skipjack If each student receives exactly one coin, the number of nickels is given by (22 - 10)/(5 - 1).

July 7th, 2009, 08:07 AM   #5
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Re: I think this is an algebra problem...let me know--thanks!

All I'm given in the logic problem is that there is the amount of 22 cents distributed to ten students through nickels and pennies.

As noted previously, I can figure it out in my head as three nickels and seven pennies. So I'm figuring one coin per student.

Anyway, I thought there must be an equation which would make this easier for large numbers too. Something as 22 cents = students with nickels + students with pennies (5 n + n ?), but then what to do with the information that there are ten students?

Well, if you have anything let me know. It's interesting as a problem of distribution.

Quote:
 Originally Posted by SidT Were each of the students given a certain amount of coins?

 July 7th, 2009, 12:16 PM #6 Senior Member   Joined: May 2008 From: Sacramento, California Posts: 299 Thanks: 0 Re: I think this is an algebra problem...let me know--thanks! Then why can't the answer just be 22 pennies?
 July 7th, 2009, 12:39 PM #7 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 20,472 Thanks: 2039 Each student is given one penny, leaving (22 - 10) pennies (worth of coins), which is distributed by replacing some pennies with nickels, which uses up (5 - 1) pennies = 4 pennies per exchange. Hence there are (22 - 10)/4 nickels. There are other possibilities if a student needn't receive exactly one coin. For example, one student could receive all the coins.
July 8th, 2009, 02:14 PM   #8
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Re: I think this is an algebra problem...let me know--thanks!

Oh, that's the problem: distributed through nickels and pennies.
Quote:
 Originally Posted by SidT Then why can't the answer just be 22 pennies?

July 8th, 2009, 02:16 PM   #9
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OK, thanks, this does help. There really are no other possibilities if the distribution is through nickels and pennies, one to each student. This is ood. I'm thinking as an equation it would have to be writen with a variable. Not sure what that would be.

Quote:
 Originally Posted by skipjack Each student is given one penny, leaving (22 - 10) pennies (worth of coins), which is distributed by replacing some pennies with nickels, which uses up (5 - 1) pennies = 4 pennies per exchange. Hence there are (22 - 10)/4 nickels. There are other possibilities if a student needn't receive exactly one coin. For example, one student could receive all the coins.

July 10th, 2009, 09:55 AM   #10
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this form may work....

Though does this work for other problems that are similar...?

For instance, distributing $2 among 20 students through quarters and nickels. Again, in my head I can figure five quarters and 15 nickels =$2.

Now using your formula, we have 200 (i.e., two hundred cents) - 100 [i.e., one nickel per student] / 25 - 5 [i.e., quarters for nickels] if I follow your reasoning (which I'm not sure I do!).

This leaves us with 100 / 20 = 5 which fits. So algebraically we write (I'm assuming):

n = 200 - 100 / 25 - 5

Is that correct? Thanks for your help.

Quote:
 Originally Posted by skipjack Each student is given one penny, leaving (22 - 10) pennies (worth of coins), which is distributed by replacing some pennies with nickels, which uses up (5 - 1) pennies = 4 pennies per exchange. Hence there are (22 - 10)/4 nickels. There are other possibilities if a student needn't receive exactly one coin. For example, one student could receive all the coins.

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