PSLE
Barbara spent ¹₁₀ of her money on a sweater and 2 dresses. The sweater cost 3 times as much as each dress. Barbara spent ¹₄ of her remaining money on a bracelet. She spent $240.5 more on the bracelet than on the 2 dresses.
(a) What fraction of Barbara's money was spent on each dress?
(b) How much money did Barbara have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 dress = 1 u

Cost of 2 dresses
= 2 x 1 u
= 2 u

Cost of 1 sweater = 3 u

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

Fraction of Barbara's money spent on each dress
= ¹₅ x ¹₁₀
= ¹₅₀

(b)
¹₁₀ of her money = 5 u
⁹₁₀ of her money = 9 x 5 u = 45 u

Barbara's remaining money = 45 u

Cost of the bracelet
= ¹₄ x 45 u
= 11.25 u

Amount that Barbara spent more on the bracelet than on the 2 dresses
= 11.25 u - 2 u
= 9.25 u

9.25 u = 240.5

1 u = 240.5 ÷ 9.25 = 26

¹⁰₁₀ of her money = 10 x 5 u = 50 u

Amount that Barbara had at first
= 50 u
= 50 x 26
= $1300

Answer(s): (a) ¹₅₀ ; (b) $1300