Answer: x = $7, y = $6
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x be the cost of an adult ticket
Let y be the cost of a children's ticket
Translate these sentences to algebra:
At the circus, three adult tickets and five child tickets cost $51: 3x + 5y = 51
Five adult tickets and two child tickets cost $47: 5x + 2y = 47
Now we have two equations. Let's use substitution to solve.
3x + 5y = 51
3x = 51 - 5y
.: x = 17 - 5y/3
Now substitute this value of x into the second equation to find the numerical value of y:
5(17 - 5y/3) + 2y = 47
85 - 25y/3 + 2y = 47
-19y/3 = -38
-19y = -114
.: y = 6
Now find x:
x = 17 - 5y/3
x = 17 - 10
.: x = 7
So an adult ticket costs $7, and a child ticket costs $6 :)
