SOLUTION: Page 504 Chapter 8 Exercise 8.5 problem 4 I get so confused with word problems? solve using two equations with two variables. High school Musical El Segundo High School put on t

Question 144946This question is from textbook Toby Slater beginning Algebra
: Page 504 Chapter 8 Exercise 8.5 problem 4 I get so confused with word problems?
solve using two equations with two variables.
High school Musical El Segundo High School put on their annual musical.The students sold 650 tickets for a value of $4375.00. If orchestra seats cost $7.50 and balcony seats costs $3.50, how many of each kind of seats were sold? This question is from textbook Toby Slater beginning Algebra

Answer by nerdybill(5413) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Assign variables to things you don't know. Then write expressions based on the information given in the problem.
Let x = orchestra seat tickets sold
and y = balcony seat tickets sold
From:"The students sold 650 tickets" we get:
x + y = 650 <<--equation #1
Then, since the problem states the total in-take and costs of each ticket we get:
7.50x + 3.50y = 4375 <<--equation #2

Now you have two equations and two unknowns:
x + y = 650
7.50x + 3.50y = 4375
Solve the above with your favorite method (i.e., substitution method, cramer's rule, etc)