Question

Write a system of equations to describe the situation below, solve using any method, and fill in the blanks.

Pedro is an airline attendant. Last week, he worked on flights on 4 small jets and 3 large jets, which could seat a total of 418 passengers. The week before, he was assigned to flights on 5 small jets and 3 large jets, which could seat a total of 464 passengers. How many seats were on each type of flight?

The flights on small jets each had ____seats, and the flights on large jets each had
______seats.

Answer 1

Seats on small jet = x = 46 seats

Seats on large jet = y = 78 seats

Explanation:

Let

Seats on small jet = x

Seats on large jet = y

4x + 3y = 418 (1)

5x + 3y = 464 (2)

Subtract (1) from (2)

5x - 4x = 464 - 418

x = 46 seats

Substitute x = 46 into (1)

4x + 3y = 418

4(46) + 3y = 418

184 + 3y = 418

3y = 418 - 184

3y = 234

y = 234/3

y = 78 seats

Seats on small jet = x = 46 seats

Seats on large jet = y = 78 seats

The flights on small jets each had 46 seats, and the flights on large jets each had

78 seats.