text: word problem. coin problem? nickels, dimes, and quarters are in a coin bank. there are 63 coins in total valuing $5.45. the number of nickels is 1 short of being three times the sum of the number of dimes and quarters together. how many dimes are in the bank?  me? no clue. thanks in advance. the procedure could help me answer the other problems so i will not be asking again hehe ok - this is easier this way - the number of nickles is one less than 3 times the sum of dimes and nickles.  get rid of that one less by adding another nickle to the calculation and making it 64 coins and $5.50.    now the equation is 3 times the amount of nickles to the sum of the amount of quarters and dimes makes $5.50.  basically that means 3 times a number, plus that same number (which is really three times and one time is 4 times) makes 64 coins. so to make it easier, 4 times that number makes 64 coins. - and when you divide 64 by 4 - you get 16.  now back to the original equation - you have 3 times as many nickles as you have the sum of dimes and quarters - so 3 times 16 is 48.  48 times $.05 is $2.40.  subtract $2.40 from $5.50 and you are left with $3.10.    now, 16 coins have to equal that $3.10.  if there were an equal amount of dimes and quarters the amount would be $2.80 - so there must be more quarters than dimes to make that amount higher - the answer is 10quarters - 6 dimes  i'm sorry about the explanation - its usually easier for someone to show another than to type it to them. :)