Question

A total of 809 tickets were sold for the school play. They were either adult tickets or student tickets. There were 59 more student tickets sold than adult tickets. How many adult tickets were sold?

Answer 1

375 Adult tickets

434 Student tickets

Explanation:

Let A and S be the numbers of Adult(A) and Student(S) tickets sold. We are told that A+S= 809.

We also learn that A + 59 = S [59 more student tickets sold than adult tickets]

Rearrange the last expression to isolate one of the two variables, A or S. I'll isolate A:

A = S - 59

Now use this expression for A in the first equation ("substitution").

A + S = 809

(S - 59) + S = 809

2S = 868

S = 434

From A + S = 809, we can find A:

A + S = 809

A + 434 = 809

A = 375

Check: Does 375 + 434 = 809?? YES

There were 375 Adult and 434 Student tickets sold, for a total of 809 tickets.