PSLE
Lynn spent ¹₄ of her money on a blouse and 4 skirts. The blouse cost 3 times as much as each skirt. Lynn spent ⁴₅ of her remaining money on a necklace. She spent $217.6 more on the necklace than on the 4 skirts.
(a) What fraction of Lynn's money was spent on each skirt?
(b) How much money did Lynn have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 skirt = 1 u

Cost of 4 skirts
= 4 x 1 u
= 4 u

Cost of 1 blouse = 3 u

Cost of 1 blouse and 4 skirts
= 3 u + 4 u
= 7 u

Fraction of Lynn's money spent on each skirt
= ¹₇ x ¹₄
= ¹₂₈

(b)
¹₄ of her money = 7 u
³₄ of her money = 3 x 7 u = 21 u

Lynn's remaining money = 21 u

Cost of the necklace
= ⁴₅ x 21 u
= 16.8 u

Amount that Lynn spent more on the necklace than on the 4 skirts
= 16.8 u - 4 u
= 12.8 u

12.8 u = 217.6

1 u = 217.6 ÷ 12.8 = 17

⁴₄ of her money = 4 x 7 u = 28 u

Amount that Lynn had at first
= 28 u
= 28 x 17
= $476

Answer(s): (a) ¹₂₈ ; (b) $476