The city buses were famous for being old, slow, and always late – but none were as confusing as the 42B. Every morning, commuters stared at their tickets, trying to make sense of the strange fares printed beside each stop.
When Mia boarded at Central Station, she noticed her fare was written as 2x + 3. Her friend Jake, who got on two stops later, had a fare of 2x + 1. Another passenger, Lila, who joined at the next stop, was charged 3x − 2. The driver, a cheerful man in a faded uniform, noticed their puzzled faces and chuckled.
“It’s simple,” he said. “Our fares depend on how far you travel – and the variable x changes daily. But here’s today’s clue: the total fare for all three of you together is £23.”
Mia grinned. “So if we can work out x, we can figure out everyone’s fare?”
The driver nodded. “Exactly. Solve it, and you’ll know what you really need to pay!”
Answer:
