Question

Mary and Jim have tickets to a concert. Mary's ticket number is one less than Jim's ticket number. The product of their numbers is 812. What are the two numbers?

Answer 1

Mary - M 
Jim - J 

Mary's ticket number is one less than Jim's ticket number. 
J - 1 = M 

The product of their numbers is 812 
M * J = 812 

plus first equation into 2nd 
(J - 1) J = 812 
J^2 - J - 812 = 0 
(J - 29) (J + 28) = 0 
J = 29 or -28, 29 cuz you can't have negative for question. 
J = 29 

plus 29 in first equation, 

29 - 1 = M 
28 = M 

Mary's ticket number is 28 and Jim is 29

Answer 2

X+ (x-1)=812
x+x-1=812
2x-1=812
2x-1+1=812+1
2x=813
(2x/2)=(813/2)
x= 406.5

One ticket number has to be 406.5, and the other has to be 405.5