Sam had $231 and Neave had $167 at first. Each of them bought an identical blouse and an identical vest from the same shop. The vest cost 4 times as much as the blouse. In the end, Sam had 3 times as much money as Neave. What was the cost of the blouse?
| |
Sam |
Neave |
Difference |
| Before |
$231 |
$167 |
$64 |
| Change |
- 1 blouse
- 1 vest |
- 1 blouse
- 1 vest |
|
| After |
3 u |
1 u |
2 u |
Since Sam and Neave bought the same items, the difference in their amounts remains the same.
Difference in the amounts that they had
= 3 u - 1 u
= 2 u
2 u = 231 - 167
2 u = 64
1 u = 64 ÷ 2 = 32
Amount that Neave had in the end
= 1 u
= $32
Cost of 1 blouse and 1 vest
= 167 - 1 u
= 167 - 32
= $135
The vest cost 4 times as much as the blouse.
Cost of 1 blouse = 1 p
Cost of 1 vest = 4 p
Total cost of 1 blouse and 1 vest
= 1 p + 4 p
= 5 p
5 p = 135
1 p = 135 ÷ 5 = 27
Cost of the blouse
= 1 p
= $27
Answer(s): $27
