PSLE
In a shop, candles are sold only in boxes. A box of 9 short candles costs $3.90 and a box of 5 long candles costs $5.60.

1. Zeph wants 12 short candles and 4 long candles for his lanterns. What is the least amount of money that Zeph will need to spend on the candles?
2. Emily bought 3 more long candles than short candles from the shop. The total number of candles she bought was fewer than 60. How much did Emily spend on the candles altogether?

(a)
Number of sets of 9 short candles
= 12 ÷ 9
= 1 r 3

Number of boxes of short candles that Zeph needs to buy
= 1 + 1
= 2

Amount that Zeph needs to spend on short candles
= 2 x 3.90
= $7.80

Least amount that Zeph will need to spend
= 7.80 + 5.60
= $13.40

(b)

Packets of long candles	Number of long candles  (x5)	Packets of short candles	Number of short candles (x9)	Total	Difference	Check
8	40	2	18	58	40 - 18 = 22	x
7	35	2	18	53	35 - 18 = 17	x
6	30	3	27	57	30 - 27 = 3	✓

To know the number of packets of long candles and short candles, we list the multiplies of 5 and 9.
We use systematic listing to find the difference between the number of long candles and short candles so that we can find the right combination that will result in having 3 more long candles.
We also check if the total number of candles must be less than 60.

Multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 
Multiples of 9: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54 

Number of packets of long candles = 6

Cost of long candles
= 6 x 5.60
= $33.60

Cost of short candles
= 3 x 3.90
= $11.70

Total amount that Emily spent on the candles
= 33.60 + 11.70
= $45.30

Answer(s): (a) $13.40; (b) $45.30