PSLE
Gillian spent ¹₅ of her money on a dress and 3 blouses. The dress cost 3 times as much as each blouse. Gillian spent ⁵₆ of her remaining money on a ring. She spent $306 more on the ring than on the 3 blouses.
(a) What fraction of Gillian's money was spent on each blouse?
(b) How much money did Gillian have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 blouse = 1 u

Cost of 3 blouses
= 3 x 1 u
= 3 u

Cost of 1 dress = 3 u

Cost of 1 dress and 3 blouses
= 3 u + 3 u
= 6 u

Fraction of Gillian's money spent on each blouse
= ¹₆ x ¹₅
= ¹₃₀

(b)
¹₅ of her money = 6 u
⁴₅ of her money = 4 x 6 u = 24 u

Gillian's remaining money = 24 u

Cost of the ring
= ⁵₆ x 24 u
= 20 u

Amount that Gillian spent more on the ring than on the 3 blouses
= 20 u - 3 u
= 17 u

17 u = 306

1 u = 306 ÷ 17 = 18

⁵₅ of her money = 5 x 6 u = 30 u

Amount that Gillian had at first
= 30 u
= 30 x 18
= $540

Answer(s): (a) ¹₃₀ ; (b) $540