Let's create two equations and solve them using the substitution method.
[tex] \left \{ {{s ~+ ~a ~= ~26} \atop {s~+~3.5a~ = ~46}} \right. [/tex]
Solve the first equation for s. Subtract a from both sides.
Plug s into the second equation.
Plug 8 for a into the first equation.
Since Ron handled student tickets, he sold 18 tickets (s = student tickets = 18).