Horrible at word problems

2ndyearstudent, CNA · Nov 17, 2010

Yes california

Even though you go to some sort of alternative school, that school has to provide or help put you on contact with resources that can help you with the learning challenges you have described.

Good luck.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2010

The drama club sold 240 tickets to the play. They sold 20 more student tickets than adult tickets. How many of each type of ticket did they sell.
Solve plz

Word problems can be a bit confusing but you are usually given exactly what you need to solve the problem within the words problem itself. Before you do anything- list what information is GIVEN to you.

1. What do we know? (is given)

The total # of student and adult tickets sold 240

They sold 20 more of the student tickets than adult tickets.

What this is telling us it there will be 20 more students there than adults so we know it isn't a 50/50 split of adults to students.

Devide the total number of tickets- 240/2= 120

Since we know 20 more tickets belong to the students, we add that to one half of the tickets sold (student tickets) and subtract it from the other half (adult tickets).

Adults- 120-20= 100 (We know there are 20 less adults- we subtract)

Students 120+20=140 (We know there are 20 more students- we add)

Total= 240 (This matches what we already knew- that the total number of tickets sold is 240)

Answer:

The drama club sold 140 student tickets and 100 adult tickets to the play.

happy2learn · Nov 19, 2010

OP, listen to what you said. You said you don't have any assistance since you are at an alternative school, yet you have a 3.9 GPA. You should really be proud of yourself and not be worrying so much. You are really doing a great job without help. That's awesome!

Just know that there is help if you need it, and when you get to nursing school, there will be help also.

manusko · Nov 19, 2010

Word problems can be a bit confusing but you are usually given exactly what you need to solve the problem within the words problem itself. Before you do anything- list what information is GIVEN to you.
1. What do we know? (is given)
The total # of student and adult tickets sold 240
They sold 20 more of the student tickets than adult tickets.
What this is telling us it there will be 20 more students there than adults so we know it isn't a 50/50 split of adults to students.
Devide the total number of tickets- 240/2= 120
Since we know 20 more tickets belong to the students, we add that to one half of the tickets sold (student tickets) and subtract it from the other half (adult tickets).
Adults- 120-20= 100 (We know there are 20 less adults- we subtract)
Students 120+20=140 (We know there are 20 more students- we add)
Total= 240 (This matches what we already knew- that the total number of tickets sold is 240)
Answer:
The drama club sold 140 student tickets and 100 adult tickets to the play.

That would be 40 more student tickets than adult not 20. The answer should be 130 student and 110 adult tickets.

Chinook2 · Nov 20, 2010

To be totally frank Cerda I'm not sure what the purpose of your post is. You obviously have a good handle on the answer to this question, the algebraic solution that you used to solve this problem (2a+20=240) was elegant and correct. I'm really not sure if this is a 'look at me, look at me' post or if you're really after help with algebra. Assuming the latter is the case and you legitimately need a hand with word problems I'd recommend a site that I've used to get a handle on a wide variety of subjects when I'm struggling. Khan Academy offers easy to understand tutorials on a wide variety of subjects including algebra. The teacher lays everything out in an easy to relate to format.

Khan Academy

Best wishes. :)

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2010

That would be 40 more student tickets than adult not 20. The answer should be 130 student and 110 adult tickets.

You are exactly right.

OP- I have an associate's degree and I missed this problem. Don't be so hard on yourself!

manusko · Nov 20, 2010

You are exactly right.
OP- I have an associate's degree and I missed this problem. Don't be so hard on yourself!

No biggie just didnt want to confuse the OP.