The play took in $744 one night. The number of $8 adult tickets was 12 less than twice the number of $5 child tickets. How many of each ticket were sold?

68 adult tickets and 40 child tickets were sold.

Step-by-step explanation:

Create a system of equations where a is the number of adult tickets sold and c is the number of child tickets sold:

8a + 5c = 744

a = 2c - 12

Solve by substitution by substituting the second equation into the first one:

8(2c - 12) + 5c = 744

16c - 96 + 5c = 744

21c - 96 = 744

21c = 840

c = 40

So, 40 child tickets were sold. Plug this into the second equation to solve for a:

a = 2c - 12

a = 2(40) - 12

a = 80 - 12

a = 68

So, 68 adult tickets and 40 child tickets were sold.