PSLE
Pamela spent ¹₉ of her money on a coat and 3 dresses. The coat cost 2 times as much as each dress. Pamela spent ⁴₅ of her remaining money on a bracelet. She spent $609 more on the bracelet than on the 3 dresses.
(a) What fraction of Pamela's money was spent on each dress?
(b) How much money did Pamela have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 dress = 1 u

Cost of 3 dresses
= 3 x 1 u
= 3 u

Cost of 1 coat = 2 u

Cost of 1 coat and 3 dresses
= 2 u + 3 u
= 5 u

Fraction of Pamela's money spent on each dress
= ¹₅ x ¹₉
= ¹₄₅

(b)
¹₉ of her money = 5 u
⁸₉ of her money = 8 x 5 u = 40 u

Pamela's remaining money = 40 u

Cost of the bracelet
= ⁴₅ x 40 u
= 32 u

Amount that Pamela spent more on the bracelet than on the 3 dresses
= 32 u - 3 u
= 29 u

29 u = 609

1 u = 609 ÷ 29 = 21

⁹₉ of her money = 9 x 5 u = 45 u

Amount that Pamela had at first
= 45 u
= 45 x 21
= $945

Answer(s): (a) ¹₄₅ ; (b) $945