Two hundred tickets for the school play were sold. Tickets cost $2 for students and $3 for adults. The total amount collected was $490. How many students tickets were sold

Set up a proportion, by creating a ratio of students to adults and solve for the unknown quantity.

2/3 = s/490

Cross multiply, multiplying the numerator/top number in the first fraction/ratio by the denominator of the second fraction/ratio.

2 • 490 = 980

Then cross multiply again, multiplying the numerator/top number in the second fraction/ratio by the denominator/bottom number in the first fraction/ratio.

S • 3 = 3s

Then, solve for the variable (S), by dividing both sides of the equation by 3.

3s/3 = 980/3

S = 327

Because student tickets cost $2 each, divide the solution by 2 to get the amount of student tickets sold.

327/2 = 164

So, 164 student tickets were sold.

Assuming that no adult tickets were sold, the answer would be 245 tickets.