PSLE
A fruit stall sold coconuts at 60¢ and dates at 30¢ each. Marion bought some coconuts and Min bought some dates from the stall. Marion spent $1.50 more than Min, but had 5 fruits fewer than Min.

1. How many coconuts did Marion buy?
2. How much did Min spend on the dates?

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

(a)
Number of coconuts that Marion bought = 1 u
Number of dates that Min bought = 1 u + 5

Amount that Marion paid = 0.6 x 1 u = 0.6 u
Amount that Min paid = 0.3(1 u + 5) = 0.3 u + 1.5

If Min spent another $1.50, both Min and Marion would spend the same amount.

0.6 u = 0.3 u + 1.5 + 1.5
0.6 u - 0.3 u = 1.5 + 1.5
0.3 u = 3

1 u = 3 ÷ 0.3 = 10

Number of coconuts that Marion bought
= 1 u
= 10

(b)
Amount that Min spent on the dates
= 0.3 u + 1.5
= 0.3 x 10 + 1.5
= 3 + 1.5
= $4.50

Answer(s): (a) 10; (b) $4.50