Tips For Success

Some questions on tests ask you to write an extended response. In this textbook, an extended response question is usually worth a maximum of 4 points. Sometimes these questions have multiple parts. To get full credit, you need to answer each part and show all your work or justify your reasoning.

TIP 1

A 1-point response might show an incorrect equation without giving the number of children who must attend to cover costs.

The Theatre Club needs to raise $440 to cover the cost of its children's play. The ticket prices are $14 for an adult and $2 for a child. The club expects that three times as many children as adults will attend the play. Write and solve an equation to find how many adult and child tickets the club needs to sell to cover the cost.

TIP 2

A 3-point response might approach the problem correctly, but have an error.

Solution

x = number of adults 3 x = number of children 14 ( x ) + 2 ( 3 x ) = 440 14 x + 6 x = 440 20 x = 440 x = 22 3 x = 66 table with 2 rows and 1 column , row1 column 1 , table with 2 rows and 1 column , row1 column 1 , x equals . numberofadults , row2 column 1 , 3 x equals . numberofchildren , end table , row2 column 1 , table with 5 rows and 3 columns , row1 column 1 , 14 open x close plus 2 open 3 x close , column 2 equals , column 3 440 , row2 column 1 , 14 x plus 6 x , column 2 equals , column 3 440 , row3 column 1 , 20 x , column 2 equals , column 3 440 , row4 column 1 , x , column 2 equals , column 3 22 , row5 column 1 , 3 x , column 2 equals , column 3 66 , end table , end table

So, 22 adults and 66 children must attend.

Think It Through

A 4–point response defines variables, shows the work, and gives a written answer to the problem. So relate what is given to what has been asked. Identify the variables and make a model that you can use to write an equation. Then show your work as you use this equation to find the solution.