you have several coins that total 38 cents. you have the same number of pennies as you do nickles. how many coins do you have?

Since the number of nickels (5 cents) is the same number as pennies (1 cent), their sum goes in multiples of 6 cents.

Assume there are N of each of pennies and nickels
N amount left
1 32
2 26
3 20
4 14
5 8
6 2
Since 20 cents equals two dimes (10 cents), we conclude that there are
2 dimes
3 nickels
3 pennies.

To solve this problem, we can use algebra to represent the number of nickels and pennies.

Let's assume the number of nickels is represented by 'x'. Since the number of pennies is the same as the number of nickels, the number of pennies is also 'x'.

The value of a nickel is 5 cents, and the value of a penny is 1 cent. So, the total value of the nickels is 5x cents, and the total value of the pennies is x cents.

According to the problem, the total value of all the coins is 38 cents. So we can write this equation:

5x + x = 38

Combining like terms:

6x = 38

To isolate 'x', we divide both sides of the equation by 6:

x = 38 / 6
x = 6.33

Since we can't have a fraction of a coin, we know that 'x' must be a whole number. The only whole number close to 6.33 is 6.

Therefore, you have 6 nickels and 6 pennies, making a total of 12 coins.