Cindy sold $1956 worth of coats and skirts. She earned $480 less on the skirts than the coats. Each skirt is sold for $12 more than each coat. The number of skirts sold was ³₇ of the number of coats sold.

1. How much did Cindy earn from the sales of the coats?
2. How many coats were sold?

(a)
Amount that Cindy earned from the sales of the coats
= (1956 + 480) ÷ 2
= 2436 ÷ 2
= $1218 

(b)
Amount that Cindy earned from the sales of the skirts
= 1218 - 480
= $738

Number of sets of skirts sold = 3  
Number of sets of coats sold = 7

Cost of 1 set of skirts sold
= 738 ÷ 3
= $246

Cost of 1 set of coats sold
= 1218 ÷ 7
= $174

Amount that 1 set of skirts was more than 1 set of coats 
= 246 - 174
= $72

Number of items in 1 set
= 72 ÷ 12
= 6

Number of coats sold
= 7 x 6
= 42

Answer(s): (a) $1218 ; (b) 42