PSLE
Joelle spent ¹₄ of her money on a blazer and 5 vests. The blazer cost 3 times as much as each vest. Joelle spent ³₄ of her remaining money on a bracelet. She spent $143 more on the bracelet than on the 5 vests.
(a) What fraction of Joelle's money was spent on each vest?
(b) How much money did Joelle have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 vest = 1 u

Cost of 5 vests
= 5 x 1 u
= 5 u

Cost of 1 blazer = 3 u

Cost of 1 blazer and 5 vests
= 3 u + 5 u
= 8 u

Fraction of Joelle's money spent on each vest
= ¹₈ x ¹₄
= ¹₃₂

(b)
¹₄ of her money = 8 u
³₄ of her money = 3 x 8 u = 24 u

Joelle's remaining money = 24 u

Cost of the bracelet
= ³₄ x 24 u
= 18 u

Amount that Joelle spent more on the bracelet than on the 5 vests
= 18 u - 5 u
= 13 u

13 u = 143

1 u = 143 ÷ 13 = 11

⁴₄ of her money = 4 x 8 u = 32 u

Amount that Joelle had at first
= 32 u
= 32 x 11
= $352

Answer(s): (a) ¹₃₂ ; (b) $352