I have a hard time setting up equations in word problems and just cannot ever really understand them. I see the highest level of school that you mentioned is twelth grade and I am in my first year of college, but it is a problem that a high schooler would probably do, too.
My name is Christie and I am asking the question for myself so that I can understand this better.
Here is the word problem.
Sesame Street on Stage has different ticket prices for adults and for children under 6. Beth and her two children, ages 3 and 4, paid $15 to gain entrance, while Jamie and John Jacobs and their 2-year old daughter got in for $19.50. What is the ticket price for adults?
Thank you in advance
for your help
Christie Sharp
Hi Christie,
Think about having the tickets in your hand. For Beth you have 3 tickets, one adult and two children's tickets. The Jacobs also have three tickets, 2 adult and one child ticket. Suppose that the adult tickets cost $A each and the children's tickets cost $C each. You know what each family paid
Beth $A + $C + $C = $15.00 The Jacobs $A + $A + $C = $19.50
These are the equations
A + 2C = 15.00
2A + C = 19.50
Subtracting the first equation from the second gives
A - C = 4.50
Thus an adult ticket costs $4.50 more than a children's ticket.Thus if the Jacobs paid $4.50 more they could have 3 adult tickets, and hence
3A = 19.50 + 4.50 = $24.00
and hence
A = $8.00
Penny