At the theater children get in for half price.  The price for $5$ adult tickets and $4$ child tickets is $$24.50$.  How much would $8$ adult tickets and $6$ child tickets cost?
$\textbf{(A) }$35\qquad \textbf{(B) }$38.50\qquad \textbf{(C) }$40\qquad \textbf{(D) }$42\qquad \textbf{(E) }$42.50$
Suppose $x$ is the price of an adult ticket. The price of a child ticket would be $\frac{x}{2}$.
\begin{eqnarray*} 5x + 4(x/2) = 7x &=& 24.50\\ x &=& 3.50\\ \end{eqnarray*}
Plug in for 8 adult tickets and 6 child tickets.
\begin{eqnarray*} 8x + 6(x/2) &=& 8(3.50) + 3(3.50)\\  &=&\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ \ 38.50}\\ \end{eqnarray*}