1 quarter is 1/4 of a dollar, that is $0.25
1 nickel is $ 0.05
Let there be q quarters and n nickels. Thus the total value in the jar is:
$0.25q+$0.05n
The jar contains 74 coins, this means that :
i) q+n=74, so writing n in terms of q we have n=74-q
thus we have q quarters and 74-q nickels.
the total value of the coins in the jar is $12.90,
so
12.90=0.25q+0.05n substitute n with 74-q
12.90=0.25q+0.05(74-q)
12.90=0.25q+3.7-0.05q
12.90-3.7=0.25q-0.05q
9.2=0.2q
q=9.2/0.2=46
Thus n=74-q=74-46=28
Answer: 28 nickels, 46 quarters