Question

A plane has 360 total seats, which are divided into economy class and business class. For every 13 seats in economy class, there are 5 seats in business class. How many seats are there in each class? With equations please​

Answer 1

Economy: 260

Business: 100

Explanation:

For each 13 seats in economy there are 5 seats in business.

13 + 5 = 18

We need a sum of 360, not 18.

Multiply both numbers in the ratio by 2:

For each 26 seats in economy there are 10 seats in business.

Add: 26 + 10 = 36.

We need a sum of 360, so the number that multiplies both numbers in the ratio must be much greater than 2. We don't know that number, so we call it x.

Multiply both numbers in the ratio by x.

We get: 13x and 5x

Add them:

13x + 5x

The sum must equal 360.

13x + 5x = 360

Now we solve for x.

18x = 360

x = 20

Economy: 13x = 13(20) = 260

Business: 5x = 5(20) = 100

Add them: 260 + 100 = 360 which is the number wee need.