PSAT Math Grid-Ins Question 111: Answer and Explanation

Question: 111

A class with 9 students went to a local museum. Each student bought a general admission ticket for $10. Each special exhibit ticket at the museum costs the same price, and 2 students bought 4 special exhibit tickets each, while 7 students bought 3 special exhibit tickets each. The total cost for the general admission tickets and special exhibit tickets was $177.00. What was the cost, in dollars, of each special exhibit ticket? (Note: Disregard the $ sign when gridding your answer.)

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

3

The question asks for the cost a special exhibit ticket when given information about the total cost of a trip to a museum. Translate the English to math in bite-sized pieces. The price of a general admission ticket is $10. There were 9 students on the trip, so the cost of general admission can be represented as 90. The price of a special exhibit ticket can be represented as s. The question states that 7 students bought 3 special exhibit tickets each, which can be represented as 21s. It also states that 2 students bought 4 special exhibit tickets each, which can be represented as 8s. The total cost was $177.00, so the information can be written as 177 = 90 + 21s + 8s or 177 = 90 + 29s. Subtract 90 from both sides of the equation to get 87 = 29s, then divide both sides by 29 to get s = = 3. The correct answer is 3.