PSLE
Lynn spent ¹₈ of her money on a skirt and 5 coats. The skirt cost 3 times as much as each coat. Lynn spent ³₅ of her remaining money on a necklace. She spent $715 more on the necklace than on the 5 coats.
(a) What fraction of Lynn's money was spent on each coat?
(b) How much money did Lynn have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 coat = 1 u

Cost of 5 coats
= 5 x 1 u
= 5 u

Cost of 1 skirt = 3 u

Cost of 1 skirt and 5 coats
= 3 u + 5 u
= 8 u

Fraction of Lynn's money spent on each coat
= ¹₈ x ¹₈
= ¹₆₄

(b)
¹₈ of her money = 8 u
⁷₈ of her money = 7 x 8 u = 56 u

Lynn's remaining money = 56 u

Cost of the necklace
= ³₅ x 56 u
= 33.6 u

Amount that Lynn spent more on the necklace than on the 5 coats
= 33.6 u - 5 u
= 28.6 u

28.6 u = 715

1 u = 715 ÷ 28.6 = 25

⁸₈ of her money = 8 x 8 u = 64 u

Amount that Lynn had at first
= 64 u
= 64 x 25
= $1600

Answer(s): (a) ¹₆₄ ; (b) $1600