Coin problem - all possible amounts from a set of coins

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on determining all possible monetary amounts (m) that can be formed using dimes and quarters, represented by the equation m = 10d + 25q, where d ranges from 0 to 8 and q from 0 to 3. The user initially identified 26 possible values but later corrected this to 28 unique values, accounting for duplicates and invalid combinations. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing equivalent combinations, particularly those differing by integer multiples of (5, -2), which yield the same m.

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Homework Statement
Given 8 dimes (10 ¢ coins) and 3 quarters (25 ¢ coins), how many different amounts
of money can be created using one or more of the 11 coins?
Relevant Equations
m = 10d + 25q , where 0 <= d < 9 and 0 <= q < 4
where d is number of dimes and q is number of quarters used to get a m.
While I found 26 possible values of m with the trial and error method, I wanted to find an elegant approach to solve such problems.

I think the following equation represents the problem:
m = 10d + 25q where ## 0 <= d < 9 ## and ## 0 <= q < 4 ##
where d is the number of dimes and q is number of quarters used to get a m.

As d can take 9 values and q can take 4 values, m can take 36 possible values, some of which will be duplicate. Note that the combination d=0, q= 0 is invalid.

I am not able to find a way to quickly isolate the potential duplicate values.
When d =5, m can have 4 values 50, 75, 100 and 125 cents. 50 and 75 will also be created with only 2 or 3 quarters. So I have found 2 duplicates, and 1 invalid amounts out of 10.

How should I move forward from here?

Thanks
 
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I would look at the quarters. Their sums either end in 0 or 5.
 
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Likes MatinSAR and musicgold
If two combinations, ##d_1, q_1## and ##d_2, q_2## give the same ##m##, then
##10d_1+25q_1=10d_2+25q_2##
##10(d_1-d_2)=25(q_2-q_1)##.
I'd look at how many different solutions this equation has. ##q_2-q_1## has to be ##2##, etc.
 
Hill said:
If two combinations, ##d_1, q_1## and ##d_2, q_2## give the same ##m##, then
##10d_1+25q_1=10d_2+25q_2##
##10(d_1-d_2)=25(q_2-q_1)##.
I'd look at how many different solutions this equation has. ##q_2-q_1## has to be ##2##, etc.
Got it. Thanks! 👍
As shown below there are 8 duplicates.
I also realized that there are actually 27 unique values of m and not 26.

27 unique values + 8 duplicates + 1 invalid = 36 combinations
1705631959839.png
 
I think you left out the combination of no coins = zero cents so there are 28 unique and 8 dupes. Zero is a legitimate amount of money (I know 'cause my bank balance went there a couple of times in my younger days :smile:
 
phinds said:
I think you left out the combination of no coins = zero cents so there are 28 unique and 8 dupes. Zero is a legitimate amount of money (I know 'cause my bank balance went there a couple of times in my younger days :smile:
The homework statement says “using one or more of the 11 coins”.
 
Two quarters are the same as 5 dimes. So points (d,q) which differ by integer multiples of (5, -2) give the same m.
 
Frabjous said:
The homework statement says “using one or more of the 11 coins”.
Ah HA ! I need to learn how to read. :smile:
 

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