Question

A vacation resort offers surfing lessons and parasailing. If a person takes a surfing lesson and goes parasailing, she will pay $175. There are 16 people who go parasailing and 20 people who take surfing lessons. On a Friday, the resort collects a total of $3,101 for activities. How much does each activity cost. (SOLVE Process)

Answer 1

If a person takes a surfing lesson and goes parasailing, she will pay $175.

x: cost of parasailing

y: cost of surfing

x + y = 175

Parasailing: 16 people

Surfing: 20 people

Total collected : $3,101

16x+20y=3,101

We have a system of equations:

16x+20y=3,101 (a)

x + y = 175 (b)

If we multiply equation b by 16 and subtract it to equation a:

16x+20y=3,101

-

16x+16y= 2,800

____________

4y = 301

Solve for y:

y= 301/4

y= 75.25

Replace y=75.25 on any equation:

x + y = 175

x+75.25 =175

Solve for x:

x=175-72.25

x = 99.75

Cost of parasailing: $99.75

Cost of surfing: $75.25