PSLE
A fruit stall sold dates at 60¢ and apples at 30¢ each. Cathy bought some dates and Gwen bought some apples from the stall. Gwen spent $1.50 less than Cathy, but had 7 fruits more than Cathy.

1. How many apples did Gwen buy?
2. How much did Cathy spend on the dates?

	Dates	Apples
Number	1 u	1 u + 7
Value	0.6	0.3
Total value	0.6 u	0.3 u + 2.1

(a)
Number of dates that Cathy bought = 1 u
Number of apples that Gwen bought = 1 u + 7

Amount that Cathy paid = 0.6 x 1 u = 0.6 u
Amount that Gwen paid = 0.3(1 u + 7) = 0.3 u + 2.1

If Gwen spent another $1.50, both Gwen and Cathy would spend the same amount.

0.6 u = 0.3 u + 2.1 + 1.5
0.6 u - 0.3 u = 2.1 + 1.5
0.3 u = 3.6

1 u = 3.6 ÷ 0.3 = 12

Number of apples that Gwen bought
= 1 u + 7
= 12 + 7
= 19

(b)
Amount that Cathy spent on the dates
= 0.6 u 
= 0.6 x 12 
= $7.20

Answer(s): (a) 12; (b) $7.20