Natalie's shop sold sweaters and blouses. The sweaters were sold at $40 each and each blouse was sold at ¹₂ of the price of each sweater. Natalie sold ¹₂ of the items on the first day and collected $4200. ³₄ of the items sold on the first day were sweaters.

1. How many blouses were sold on the first day?
2. What was the total number of items left after the first day?

(a)

Sold		Unsold	Total
1x4		1x4	2x4
Sweaters	Blouses
3x1	1x1
3 u	1 u	4 u	8 u

The total number of sweaters and blouses sold is repeated.  Make the total number of sweaters and blouses sold the same.  LCM of 4 and 1 is 4.

	Sweaters	Blouses	Total
Number	3 u	1 u	4 u
Value	$40	$20
Total value	120 u	20 u	140 u

Cost of each blouse
= ¹₂ x 40
= $20

Total amount collected from selling the sweaters and the blouses on the first day
= 120 u + 20 u
= 140 u

140 u = 4200

1 u = 4200 ÷ 140 = 30

Number of blouses sold on the first day
= 1 u
= 30

(b)
Total number of items left after the first day
= 4 u
= 4 x 30
= 120

Answer(s): (a) 30; (b) 120