PSLE
A fruit stall sold tomatoes at 60¢ and coconuts at 30¢ each. Barbara bought some tomatoes and Tiffany bought some coconuts from the stall. Barbara spent $0.90 more than Tiffany, but had 5 fruits fewer than Tiffany.

1. How many tomatoes did Barbara buy?
2. How much did Tiffany spend on the coconuts?

	Tomatoes	Coconuts
Number	1 u	1 u + 5
Value	0.6	0.3
Total value	0.6 u	0.3 u + 1.5

(a)
Number of tomatoes that Barbara bought = 1 u
Number of coconuts that Tiffany bought = 1 u + 5

Amount that Barbara paid = 0.6 x 1 u = 0.6 u
Amount that Tiffany paid = 0.3(1 u + 5) = 0.3 u + 1.5

If Tiffany spent another $0.90, both Tiffany and Barbara would spend the same amount.

0.6 u = 0.3 u + 1.5 + 0.9
0.6 u - 0.3 u = 1.5 + 0.9
0.3 u = 2.4

1 u = 2.4 ÷ 0.3 = 8

Number of tomatoes that Barbara bought
= 1 u
= 8

(b)
Amount that Tiffany spent on the coconuts
= 0.3 u + 1.5
= 0.3 x 8 + 1.5
= 2.4 + 1.5
= $3.90

Answer(s): (a) 8; (b) $3.90