PSLE
Barbara spent ¹₄ of her money on a skirt and 4 vests. The skirt cost 2 times as much as each vest. Barbara spent ¹₄ of her remaining money on a bracelet. She spent $8 more on the bracelet than on the 4 vests.
(a) What fraction of Barbara's money was spent on each vest?
(b) How much money did Barbara have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 vest = 1 u

Cost of 4 vests
= 4 x 1 u
= 4 u

Cost of 1 skirt = 2 u

Cost of 1 skirt and 4 vests
= 2 u + 4 u
= 6 u

Fraction of Barbara's money spent on each vest
= ¹₆ x ¹₄
= ¹₂₄

(b)
¹₄ of her money = 6 u
³₄ of her money = 3 x 6 u = 18 u

Barbara's remaining money = 18 u

Cost of the bracelet
= ¹₄ x 18 u
= 4.5 u

Amount that Barbara spent more on the bracelet than on the 4 vests
= 4.5 u - 4 u
= 0.5 u

0.5 u = 8

1 u = 8 ÷ 0.5 = 16

⁴₄ of her money = 4 x 6 u = 24 u

Amount that Barbara had at first
= 24 u
= 24 x 16
= $384

Answer(s): (a) ¹₂₄ ; (b) $384