Simple Word problem

Please can you help me solve this problem mathematically without just guessing the answer. What's the proper mathematical way to solve it.

Tickets cost £14 for two adults and three children. The children's tickets are half the price of the adult tickets. What is the cost of the tickets for the adults?

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Reply 1

Chlorophile

20

Original post by dthomas86

Please can you help me solve this problem mathematically without just guessing the answer. What's the proper mathematical way to solve it.

Tickets cost £14 for two adults and three children. The children's tickets are half the price of the adult tickets. What is the cost of the tickets for the adults?

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You'd want to set up an algebraic equation. A good starting point would be calling the children's ticket price x and therefore calling the adult price 2x.

Reply 2

dthomas86

OP

3

What something like 2x+x=14
If I do it this way don't I up just end up with 3x=14 or should I use a different variable for the children?

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(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 3

anonwinner

19

Chlorophile actually made a small mistake. As you're trying to find the cost of the tickets for adults, this variable should be x, not the price for children's tickets. The price for children's tickets is half of the adults, so x/2.

We have 2 adults, so 2x, and 3 children, so 3/2x.

So now we can make the equation: 2x + 3/2x = 14

I'm sure you can solve from there :smile:

Reply 4

dthomas86

OP

3

Thanks I find it so much easier to do it algebraic. My girlfriend was trying to show me using non algebra and I found her method way too complicated!
Does that make me dull lol?

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Reply 5

dthomas86

OP

3

Or an other method adults have to pay twice as much so 2x2 + 3 children = 7
14/7 = 2 and then double this as adult ticket prices are twice as much = 4

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Reply 6

Andy98

20

Original post by anonwinner

Chlorophile actually made a small mistake. As you're trying to find the cost of the tickets for adults, this variable should be x, not the price for children's tickets. The price for children's tickets is half of the adults, so x/2.

We have 2 adults, so 2x, and 3 children, so 3/2x.

So now we can make the equation: 2x + 3/2x = 14

I'm sure you can solve from there :smile:

I would have done simultaneous.

x+3y=14
y=x/2

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