PSLE
Barbara spent ¹₄ of her money on a blazer and 5 vests. The blazer cost 3 times as much as each vest. Barbara spent ⁵₈ of her remaining money on a necklace. She spent $220 more on the necklace than on the 5 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 5 vests
= 5 x 1 u
= 5 u

Cost of 1 blazer = 3 u

Cost of 1 blazer and 5 vests
= 3 u + 5 u
= 8 u

Fraction of Barbara's money spent on each vest
= ¹₈ x ¹₄
= ¹₃₂

(b)
¹₄ of her money = 8 u
³₄ of her money = 3 x 8 u = 24 u

Barbara's remaining money = 24 u

Cost of the necklace
= ⁵₈ x 24 u
= 15 u

Amount that Barbara spent more on the necklace than on the 5 vests
= 15 u - 5 u
= 10 u

10 u = 220

1 u = 220 ÷ 10 = 22

⁴₄ of her money = 4 x 8 u = 32 u

Amount that Barbara had at first
= 32 u
= 32 x 22
= $704

Answer(s): (a) ¹₃₂ ; (b) $704