Question

For a school play, 739 tickets valued at $857 were sold. Some cost $1 and others cost a $1.50. How many $1 tickets were sold?

if someone could explain how you set it up and why that would really help me

Answer 1

503 $1 tickets sold.

Explanation:

Use two equations

Let x = number of $1 tickets sold

Let y = number of $1.50 tickets sold

x + y = 739

1x + (1.5)y = 857

First equation ==> y = 739 - x

Plug this into the second equation

x + (1.5)(739 - x) = 857

x + 1108.5 - 1.5x = 857

- 0.5x = -251.5

x = 503

There were 503 $1 tickets sold.

To find the number of $1.50 tickets, just plug this value of x into either one of the equations.

(503) + y = 739 (739 - 503 = 236)

y = 236

There were 236 $1.50 tickets sold.