Question a-disc

1.4 Systems of Two Linear Equations - Word problems with systems
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A discount airline sells a certain number of tickets, x, for a flight for $90 each. It sells the number of remaining tickets, y, for $250 each. For a particular flight, the airline sold 120 tickets and collected a total of $27,600 from the sale of those tickets. Which system of equations represents this relationship between x and y ?

A.

open brace, x plus y equals 120, and, 90 x plus 250 y equals 27,600

B.

open brace, x plus y equals 120, and, 90 x plus 250 y equals 120 times 27,600

C.

open brace, x plus y equals 27,600, and, 90 x plus 250 y equals 120 times 27,600

D.

open brace, 90 x equals 250 y, and, 120 x plus 120 y equals 27,600

A discount airline sells a certain number of tickets, x , for a flight for $90

Medium-difficulty · SAT Math · Systems of Two Linear Equations — Word problems with systems. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice A is correct. The airline sold two types of tickets for this flight: x tickets at $90 each and the remaining  tickets, y, at $250 each. Because the airline sold a total of 120 tickets for this flight, it must be true that x + y = 120. The amount, in dollars, collected from the sale of x tickets at $90 each is represented by 90x. The amount, in dollars, collected from the sale of the remaining y tickets at $250 each is represented by 250y. It is given that a total of $27,600 was collected from the sale of all tickets. Therefore, it must also be true that 90x + 250y = 27,600.

Choice B is incorrect. The total number of tickets sold is represented correctly as x + y = 120. The total amount, in dollars, collected from the sale of the x tickets at $90 each and the remaining tickets, y, at $250 has been correctly represented as 90x + 250y. However, according to the information given, this total should be equal to 27,600, not 120(27,600) dollars. Choice C is incorrect. The total number of tickets sold has been correctly represented as x + y. However, according to the information given, this total should be equal to 120, not 27,600, as shown in choice C. The total amount, in dollars, collected from the sale of the x tickets at $90 each and the remaining tickets, y, at $250 has been correctly represented as 90x + 250y. However, according to the information given, this total should be equal to 27,600, not 120(27,600) dollars. Choice D is incorrect. The two equations given in choice D have no meaning in this context.