Pamela bought 2 portable air-conditioners and 3 hand blenders. Each portable air-conditioner costs $260 more than each hand blender. She spent 20% of her money on the hand blenders.

1. How much did each portable air-conditioner cost? 
2. How much did she spend altogether?

	Portable air-conditioners	Hand blenders	Total
Number	2	3
Value	1 u + $260	1 u
Total value	2 u + $520	3 u
Comparing amounts spent on portable air-conditioners and hand blenders	80%	20%	100%

(a)
Amount that Pamela spent on the portable air-conditioners
= 2(1 u + 260)
= 2 u + 520 

Amount that Pamela spent on the hand blenders
= 3 x 1 u
= 3 u

Amount that Pamela spent on the portable air-conditioners in percent
= 100% - 20%
= 80%

20% → 3 u

80% → 4 x 3 u = 12 u

12 u = 2 u + 520
12 u - 2 u = 520
10 u = 520

1 u = 520 ÷ 10 = 52

Cost of each portable air-conditioner 
= 52 + 260
= $312

(b)
100% → 3 u + 12 u = 15 u

Amount that Pamela spent altogether
= 15 u
= 15 x 52
= $780

Answer(s): (a) $312; (b) $780