The senior classes at High School A and High School B planned separate trips to New York City. The senior class at High School A rented and filled 1 van and 6 buses with 372 students. High School Brented and filled 4 vans and 12 buses with 780 students. Each van and each bus carried the same number of students. How many students can a van carry? How many students can a bus carry? *

ANSWER:  each van carries 18 people and each bus can                   transport 59 people.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x = number of vans

      y = number of buses

Then x + 6y = 372

      4x + 12y = 780

Multiply the first equation by -4:  -4x - 24y = -1488

                                                  4x + 12y = 780

Adding the equations, we get -12y = -708

                                                y = 59

Substitute for y in the equation x + 6y = 372:

  x + 6(59) = 372

  x + 354 = 372

            x = 18