Let n be the number of nickels
Let d be the number of dimes
There are 31 coins in your pocket:
[tex]n+d=31[/tex]You have in total $2.65:
[tex]0.05n+0.10d=2.65[/tex]Use the two equations above a system of linear equations to solve the variables n and d:
[tex]\begin{gathered} n+d=31 \\ 0.05n+0.10d=2.65 \end{gathered}[/tex]1. Solve n in the fist equation:
[tex]\begin{gathered} n+d-d=31-d \\ \\ n=31-d \end{gathered}[/tex]2. Use the value of n=31-d in the second equaiton:
[tex]0.05(31-d)+0.10d=2.65[/tex]3. Solve d:
[tex]\begin{gathered} 1.55-0.05d+0.10d=2.65 \\ 1.55+0.05d=2.65 \\ 1.55-1.55+0.05d=2.65-1.55 \\ 0.05d=1.1 \\ \frac{0.05}{0.05}d=\frac{1.1}{0.05} \\ \\ d=22 \end{gathered}[/tex]4. Use the value of d=22 to solve n:
[tex]\begin{gathered} n=31-d \\ n=31-22 \\ n=9 \end{gathered}[/tex]