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Mon 16 May, 2005 06:06 pm
I am new and I am Stumped! I need to know the answer to this question! "How many different combinations of 48 coins (quarters, dimes, nickles and pennies) make up $1.00?
I would really appreciate if you showed me how you got the answer! Thanks!
you have two equations in four unknowns, but you have a constraint all numbers of quarters,numbers of Dimes, Number of Nickles, and Numbers of pennys must either be zero or a positives integer.
If a,b,c, &d represent the numbers of quarters,numbers of Dimes, Number of Nickles, and Numbers of pennys respectively the two equations become
a+b+c+d=48
and
25a+10b+5c+d=100
Since a has the least variability start by setting a=0
so
b+c+d=48
and
10b+5c+d=100
eliminating d these equations become
9b+4c=52
or
c=13-9b/4
Moreover since c is positive b<7
and b has to be evenly divisible by 4
for b ranging from 0 to 6 the only b's divisible by 4 are b=0 and b=4
Try the first of a=0 & b=0 then c=13 and d=35
check 0+0+13+35=48
25*0+10*0+5*13+35=100
so this is a solution
Now try b=4, then c=4 & d=40
check 0+4+4+40=48
25*0+10*4+5*4+40=100
Now try a=1
b+c+d=47
10b+5c+d=75
9b+4c=28
There just aren't enough coins in a dollar to have the 48 coins. So there is no solution with any quarters and a has to be equal to zero.
So there are two solutions
no quarters, no dimes, 13 nickels, and 35 cents
and
no quarters, four dimes, four nickels, and 40 cents.
Rap
Been thinking of more solutions.
if the number of quarters (a) equal 1 then
b+c+d=47
10b+5c+d=75
and
9b+4c=28 or c=7-9b/4
so b<3 and divisible by zero--so b=0 & c=7
d=40
check
1+0+7+40=48
25*1+10*0+7*5+40=100
now try a=2
b+c+d=46
b+c+d=50
9b+4c=4 or c=1-9b/4 or b<1 and divisible by 4
so a=2, b=0, c=1 and d=45
check
2+0+1+45=58
25*2+0*10+1*5+45=100
now try a=3
b+c+d=45
10b+5c+d=25
9b+4c=-20
now there is no solution
So
1 quarter, seven nickles, and 40 cents is also a solution
&
2 quarters, 1 nickle and 45 cents is a solution
so there are four possible solution.
Rap
In matrix form the solution can be expressed as
|0_0_13_35||1|
|0_4__4_40||1|
|1_0__7_40||1|=48
|2_0__1_45||1|
|0_0_13_35||25|
|0_4__4_40||10|
|1_0__7_40||05|=100
|2_0__1_45||01|
Then there's one solution, but it's a matrix.
Rap