A group of 2 adults and 4 children spent $38 on tickets to a museum. A group of 3 adults and 3 children spent $40.50 on tickets to the museum. Based on this information, how much is an adult ticket, and how much is a child ticket?

adult $8.00

child $5.50

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the price of 1 adult ticket = x.

Let the price of 1 child ticket = y.

2x + 4y = 38

3x + 3y = 40.5

Multiply the first equation by 3. Multiply the second equation by -2. Then add them.

         6x + 12y = 114

(+)      -6x - 6y = -81

                  6y = 33

y = 33/6

y = 5.5

2x + 4y = 38

2x + 4(5.5) = 38

2x + 22 = 38

2x = 16

x = 8

adult $8.00

child $5.50

An adult ticket is $8.00 and a child's ticket is $5.50.

Step-by-step explanation:

We form a system of 2 equations and solve them.

Let a be the price of adult ticket and c the price of a child's.

2a + 4c = 38         (A)

3a + 3c = 40.5      (B)

Multiply equation A by 3 and equation B by -2:

6a + 12c = 114

-6a - 6c = -81        Adding these 2 equations:

0 + 6c = 33

c = 33/6 = 5.5.

Now we substitute for c in equation A:

2a + 4(5.5) = 38

2a = 38 - 22

2a = 16

a = 6.

Let's now check these results by substitution in equation B:

3a + 3c = 40.5

3(8) + 3(5.5) = 24.0 + 16.5 = 40.5

- so it checks out.