PSLE
Kathy spent ¹₈ of her money on a blouse and 3 vests. The blouse cost 2 times as much as each vest. Kathy spent ³₅ of her remaining money on a ring. She spent $216 more on the ring than on the 3 vests.
(a) What fraction of Kathy's money was spent on each vest?
(b) How much money did Kathy have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 vest = 1 u

Cost of 3 vests
= 3 x 1 u
= 3 u

Cost of 1 blouse = 2 u

Cost of 1 blouse and 3 vests
= 2 u + 3 u
= 5 u

Fraction of Kathy's money spent on each vest
= ¹₅ x ¹₈
= ¹₄₀

(b)
¹₈ of her money = 5 u
⁷₈ of her money = 7 x 5 u = 35 u

Kathy's remaining money = 35 u

Cost of the ring
= ³₅ x 35 u
= 21 u

Amount that Kathy spent more on the ring than on the 3 vests
= 21 u - 3 u
= 18 u

18 u = 216

1 u = 216 ÷ 18 = 12

⁸₈ of her money = 8 x 5 u = 40 u

Amount that Kathy had at first
= 40 u
= 40 x 12
= $480

Answer(s): (a) ¹₄₀ ; (b) $480