PSLE
A fruit stall sold pears at 80¢ and avocados at 50¢ each. Irene bought some pears and Vanessa bought some avocados from the stall. Irene spent $0.10 more than Vanessa, but had 4 fruits fewer than Vanessa.

1. How many pears did Irene buy?
2. How much did Vanessa spend on the avocados?

	Pears	Avocados
Number	1 u	1 u + 4
Value	0.8	0.5
Total value	0.8 u	0.5 u + 2

(a)
Number of pears that Irene bought = 1 u
Number of avocados that Vanessa bought = 1 u + 4

Amount that Irene paid = 0.8 x 1 u = 0.8 u
Amount that Vanessa paid = 0.5(1 u + 4) = 0.5 u + 2

If Vanessa spent another $0.10, both Vanessa and Irene would spend the same amount.

0.8 u = 0.5 u + 2 + 0.1
0.8 u - 0.5 u = 2 + 0.1
0.3 u = 2.1

1 u = 2.1 ÷ 0.3 = 7

Number of pears that Irene bought
= 1 u
= 7

(b)
Amount that Vanessa spent on the avocados
= 0.5 u + 2
= 0.5 x 7 + 2
= 3.5 + 2
= $5.50

Answer(s): (a) 7; (b) $5.50