Coins in the pocket

Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:

metallicafan wrote:Jayden has two coins in his pocket, each of which are either a
penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter, and they are not the
same. If the …first coin is worth ten cents less than four times
the value of the second coin, what is the total value of the
two coins?
(A) $0.06
(B) $0.11
(C) $0.15
(D) $0.30
(E) $0.35

Is there an algebraic approach?, or just trial and error?

This would be a trial and error question.

Notice that, if there happened to be something called a 90-cent coin, then this question would have 2 possible solutions:
(1) nickel and dime
(2) quarter and 90-cent coin

Similarly, if there happened to be something called a 30-cent coin, then this question would have 2 possible solutions:
(1) nickel and dime
(2) dime and 30-cent coin

Since the question depends on the definition of what constitutes a legitimate coin (defined in the question as a penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter), the answer will require us to use trial and error.

Cheers,
Brent