Mary and Jim have tickets to a concert. Mary's ticket number is one less than Jim's ticket number. The product of their numbers is 812. What are the two numbers?

Mary - M

Jim - J

Mary's ticket number is one less than Jim's ticket number.

J - 1 = M

The product of their numbers is 812

M * J = 812

plus first equation into 2nd

(J - 1) J = 812

J^2 - J - 812 = 0

(J - 29) (J + 28) = 0

J = 29 or - 28, 29 cuz you can't have negative for question.

J = 29

plus 29 in first equation,

29 - 1 = M

28 = M

Mary's ticket number is 28 and Jim is 29

X + (x-1) = 812

x+x-1=812

2x-1=812

2x-1+1=812+1

2x=813

(2x/2) = (813/2)

x = 406.5

One ticket number has to be 406.5, and the other has to be 405.5