The first column is given. Also row R is easy: if Ronnie has 1 quarter then he has 1 nickel and so he has 5 dimes, but this can’t be because Jordan has more. So Ronnie has 2 quarters, 2 nickels and 3 dimes, for a total of 90 cents. This also gives column N because of the conditions on number of nickels. So we have this: (Ack! Because of YA formatting it’s hard to make this table line up!!)

…….|…1….10….10….7

…….|…P….N……D….Q

————————————

7.C.|…0…..3

7.J..|…0…..2

7.M.|…1…..3

7.R..|…0…..2…..3……2

Well, Jordan has either 4 or 5 dimes.

Suppose Jordan has 5 dimes. Then either Carmen has 2 dimes or none (she can’t have 1 dime because then Mariah would have the same number of dimes). If Carmen has 2 dimes then Mariah will have 91 cents, more than Ronnie. If Carmen has no dimes than she has 4 quarters, giving her more money than Ronnie.

So Jordan has 4 dimes. The rest of the table now follows, I’ll let you fill it in. Carmen has 85 cents, Jordan 75, Mariah 76, and Ronnie 90.

What sort of sadistic teacher wants to know this sort of stuff?

I hope you get the correct answer, good luck.

I would try to help you out, but, I know quarters are worth 25 cents, that’s obvious. But dimes and nickles? I haven’t got a clue. I’m not American so don’t know and don’t care what they’re worth.

First, you know how much money they have.

Second, you know how many coins they have.

Start from there.