MHB Word Problem: Application Of Linear Equations (Typo In Textbook?)

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The discussion centers on the confusion between two statements regarding the relationship between the number of dimes and nickels. The first statement, "The number of dimes is 5 times more than twice the number of nickels," translates to d = 5 * 2n, while the second, "The number of dimes is 5 more than twice the number of nickels," translates to d = 2n + 5. Participants note that using the first equation results in a decimal, whereas the second yields a whole number, suggesting a potential typo in the original problem. The consensus is that the phrasing of the problem may indeed be incorrect. Clarification on this issue is needed for accurate problem-solving.
NotaMathPerson
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Is there a difference between the following statement

"The number of dimes is 5 times more than twice the number of nickels" and "The number of dimes is 5 more than twice number of nickels"?

The 5 times more... and the 5 more than... confuses me. Please clarify this for me. Thanks!
 
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Re: Word problem

NotaMathPerson said:
"The number of dimes is 5 times more than twice the number of nickels"

d = 5 * 2n

NotaMathPerson said:
"The number of dimes is 5 more than twice number of nickels"

d = 2n + 5
 
Re: Word problem

greg1313 said:
d = 5 * 2n
d = 2n + 5

Hello the orginal problem where I get that statement from is this

The soda machine contains $3.00 in nickels and dimes. If the number of dimes is 5 times more than twice the number of nickels, how manay coins of each type are there?

When I used d=5*2n, I get a decimal number. But when I use d = 5+2n I get an exact answer. Do yout think the problem has typo error?
 
Re: Word problem

It certainly appears that way. My results are the same as the results you described.
 
I have been insisting to my statistics students that for probabilities, the rule is the number of significant figures is the number of digits past the leading zeros or leading nines. For example to give 4 significant figures for a probability: 0.000001234 and 0.99999991234 are the correct number of decimal places. That way the complementary probability can also be given to the same significant figures ( 0.999998766 and 0.00000008766 respectively). More generally if you have a value that...

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