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A theater sells adult tickets for $12 and child tickets for $7. If 150 tickets were sold for a total of $1,525, how many adult tickets were sold?
95 adult tickets (choice C). Let a be adult tickets and c be child tickets: a + c = 150 and 12a + 7c = 1525. Substituting c = 150 − a gives 5a + 1050 = 1525, so a = 95, and the check is 12(95) + 7(55) = 1,140 + 385 = 1,525.
We posted this SAT-style question on Facebook and Instagram with the tip “Read the last line first. That's what they're actually asking,” and posted the worked answer on Facebook the next day. The question was written by Brainrise; it is not an official College Board item.
The trap is answering the wrong unknown: 55 is the number of child tickets, not adult tickets. Reading the last line first tells your teen what the question wants before they start solving.
Why is 55 a tempting wrong answer?
55 is the number of child tickets (150 − 95). A student who solves for c instead of a lands on it. The question asks for adult tickets.
Is there a faster way than two equations?
Yes. If all 150 tickets were child tickets the total would be $1,050. Each adult ticket adds $5 more, and $1,525 − $1,050 = $475, so 475 ÷ 5 = 95 adult tickets. Both methods give the same answer.
What does it cost to practice questions like this in Brainrise?
The 7-day free trial requires a card; after the trial it is $24 a month for one exam (SAT or ACT) or $36 a month for both, and you can cancel any time. Brainrise is not available to New York residents.
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