PSLE
Mary spent ¹₈ of her money on a windbreaker and 3 jumpsuits. The windbreaker cost 3 times as much as each jumpsuit. Mary spent ⁵₆ of her remaining money on a bracelet. She spent $672 more on the bracelet than on the 3 jumpsuits.
(a) What fraction of Mary's money was spent on each jumpsuit?
(b) How much money did Mary have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 jumpsuit = 1 u

Cost of 3 jumpsuits
= 3 x 1 u
= 3 u

Cost of 1 windbreaker = 3 u

Cost of 1 windbreaker and 3 jumpsuits
= 3 u + 3 u
= 6 u

Fraction of Mary's money spent on each jumpsuit
= ¹₆ x ¹₈
= ¹₄₈

(b)
¹₈ of her money = 6 u
⁷₈ of her money = 7 x 6 u = 42 u

Mary's remaining money = 42 u

Cost of the bracelet
= ⁵₆ x 42 u
= 35 u

Amount that Mary spent more on the bracelet than on the 3 jumpsuits
= 35 u - 3 u
= 32 u

32 u = 672

1 u = 672 ÷ 32 = 21

⁸₈ of her money = 8 x 6 u = 48 u

Amount that Mary had at first
= 48 u
= 48 x 21
= $1008

Answer(s): (a) ¹₄₈ ; (b) $1008