Japheth had $295 and Oliver had $145 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, Japheth had 3 times as much money as Oliver. What was the cost of the blouse?
| |
Japheth |
Oliver |
Difference |
| Before |
$295 |
$145 |
$150 |
| Change |
- 1 blouse
- 1 vest |
- 1 blouse
- 1 vest |
|
| After |
3 u |
1 u |
2 u |
Since Japheth and Oliver 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 = 295 - 145
2 u = 150
1 u = 150 ÷ 2 = 75
Amount that Oliver had in the end
= 1 u
= $75
Cost of 1 blouse and 1 vest
= 145 - 1 u
= 145 - 75
= $70
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 = 70
1 p = 70 ÷ 5 = 14
Cost of the blouse
= 1 p
= $14
Answer(s): $14
