<script type="tex/javascript">

        $j('.ticketOption').click(function(){

            // I'm doing this next selector this way because I'm trying to do something like $j(this+' input:first).attr('checked','true');
           // can heirachy stuff be combined like this? ==> $j(this+' class class')  ?

            $j('#ticketOption'+$j(this).attr('name')).attr('checked', 'true');
    
            // is there a better way?

        });


      // I am trying to get the number value inside the span tags with the class 'number'

      $j('#ticketOption'+$j(this).attr('name')+' ticketPrice number').

</script>

<div class="ticketOption" name="4">


    <input type="radio" name="ticketOption" id="ticketOption4" value="4"/>

    <div class="ticketPrice">
       $
       <span class="number">
            10
       </span>
    </div>            

</div>

<script type="tex/javascript">

        $j('.ticketOption').click(function(){

            // store the jQuery object for "this" .ticketOption div
            var context = $j(this);

            // Now, using the context stored, get the first input inside of "this" div
            $j('input:first', context).attr('checked', true); // Pass the context as the second argument and jQuery will only look within that context



           // Get the text inside of the span
           var spanValue = $j('span.number:first', context).text();

        });


</script>

<div class="ticketOption" name="4">


    <input type="radio" name="ticketOption" id="ticketOption4" value="4"/>

    <div class="ticketPrice">
       $
       <span class="number">
            10
       </span>
    </div>            

</div>