How many child tickets were sold that day?

Question

At the city museum, child admission is $6.20 and adult admission is $9.40. On thursday, three times as many adult tickets as child tickets were sold, For a total sales of $1135.20. How many child tickets were sold that day?

Answer 1

Hi Barb,

 

We know child tickets sell for $6.20 and adult tickets sell for $9.40. We also know that 3 times as many adult tickets were sold than child tickets. Let x be the number of child tickets, then 3x is the number of adult tickets.

 

(6.20)(number of child tickets) + (9.40)(number of adult tickets) = 1135.20

 

or

 

6.20x + (9.40)(3x) = 1135.20

 

or

 

6.20x + 28.2x = 1135.20

 

or

 

34.4x = 1135.20

 

which gives

 

x = 33 child tickets

3x = 99 adult tickets

Answer 2

Hi Barb;

 

First assign variables to represent the unknowns which is how many child tickets and how many adult tickets were sold.

 

c = # child tickets

a = # adult tickets

 

Now set up a system of equations to solve from the given information:

 

a = 3c

6.2c + 9.4a = 1135.2

 

Substitute 3c in place of a in 2nd equation and solve for c to find number of child tickets

 

6.2c + 9.4(3c) = 1135.2

6.2c + 28.2c = 1135.2

34.4c = 1135.2

c = 1135.2/34.4

c = 33 child tickets sold

 

We know that a = 3c so how many adult tickets were sold?