PSLE
Shannon spent ¹₅ of her money on a skirt and 5 dresses. The skirt cost 2 times as much as each dress. Shannon spent ⁵₈ of her remaining money on a necklace. She spent $125 more on the necklace than on the 5 dresses.
(a) What fraction of Shannon's money was spent on each dress?
(b) How much money did Shannon have at first?
(a)
Cost of 1 dress = 1 u

Cost of 5 dresses
= 5 x 1 u
= 5 u

Cost of 1 skirt = 2 u

Cost of 1 skirt and 5 dresses
= 2 u + 5 u
= 7 u

Fraction of Shannon's money spent on each dress
= ¹₇ x ¹₅
= ¹₃₅

(b)
¹₅ of her money = 7 u
⁴₅ of her money = 4 x 7 u = 28 u

Shannon's remaining money = 28 u

Cost of the necklace
= ⁵₈ x 28 u
= 17.5 u

Amount that Shannon spent more on the necklace than on the 5 dresses
= 17.5 u - 5 u
= 12.5 u

12.5 u = 125

1 u = 125 ÷ 12.5 = 10

⁵₅ of her money = 5 x 7 u = 35 u

Amount that Shannon had at first
= 35 u
= 35 x 10
= $350

Answer(s): (a) ¹₃₅ ; (b) $350