PSLE
Elyse spent ¹₈ of her money on a blazer and 2 blouses. The blazer cost 3 times as much as each blouse. Elyse spent ¹₄ of her remaining money on a necklace. She spent $168.75 more on the necklace than on the 2 blouses.
(a) What fraction of Elyse's money was spent on each blouse?
(b) How much money did Elyse have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 blouse = 1 u

Cost of 2 blouses
= 2 x 1 u
= 2 u

Cost of 1 blazer = 3 u

Cost of 1 blazer and 2 blouses
= 3 u + 2 u
= 5 u

Fraction of Elyse's money spent on each blouse
= ¹₅ x ¹₈
= ¹₄₀

(b)
¹₈ of her money = 5 u
⁷₈ of her money = 7 x 5 u = 35 u

Elyse's remaining money = 35 u

Cost of the necklace
= ¹₄ x 35 u
= 8.75 u

Amount that Elyse spent more on the necklace than on the 2 blouses
= 8.75 u - 2 u
= 6.75 u

6.75 u = 168.75

1 u = 168.75 ÷ 6.75 = 25

⁸₈ of her money = 8 x 5 u = 40 u

Amount that Elyse had at first
= 40 u
= 40 x 25
= $1000

Answer(s): (a) ¹₄₀ ; (b) $1000