How many nickels make 2 dollars?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking how many nickel coins are needed to equal a total of two dollars. A nickel is worth 5 cents, so we will determine how many nickels can be combined to reach 200 cents, which is equivalent to two dollars.
Answer
40 nickels
Answer for screen readers
To make 2 dollars, you need 40 nickels.
Steps to Solve
- Determine the value in cents for 2 dollars
We know that 1 dollar is equivalent to 100 cents, so 2 dollars is equivalent to 200 cents.
$$ 2 \text{ dollars} = 2 \times 100 = 200 \text{ cents} $$
- Determine the value of one nickel in cents
One nickel is worth 5 cents.
- Divide the total value by the value per nickel
To find out how many nickels make up 200 cents, we divide the total cents by the value of one nickel.
$$ \frac{200 \text{ cents}}{5 \text{ cents per nickel}} = 40 \text{ nickels} $$
To make 2 dollars, you need 40 nickels.
More Information
Fun fact: The name 'nickel' comes from the coin's composition, originally containing nickel metal. Today, nickels are made mostly of copper (75%) with only 25% nickel.
Tips
A common mistake might be incorrectly converting dollars to cents or misunderstanding the value of a nickel. Always remember to confirm the value of coins involved and perform the correct division.
