Zoe spent $64 on some starfruits, apples and persimmons in the ratio of 2 : 5 : 1. The number of starfruits was ²₅ the number of apples. The ratio of the number of persimmons to the number of apples was 5 : 2. The starfruits were sold at 4 for a dollar.

1. How many fruits did she buy altogether?
2. How much did each apple cost?

Amount spent
Starfruits	Apples	Persimmons	Total
2 u	5 u	1 u	8 u

Total amount spent on fruits
= 2 u + 5 u + 1 u
= 8 u

8 u = 64

1 u = 64 ÷ 8 = 8

Amount that Zoe spent on starfruits
= 2 u
= 2 x 8
= $16 

Total number of starfruits that Zoe bought
= 16 x 4
= 64

Number of fruits bought
Starfruits	Apples	Persimmons
2x2	5x2
	2x5	5x5
4 p	10 p	25 p

The number of apples bought is repeated.  Make the number of apples the same.  LCM of 2 and 5 is 10.

4 p = 64

1 p = 64 ÷ 4 = 16

Total number of fruits that Zoe bought
= 4 p + 10 p + 25 p
= 39 p
= 39 x 16
= 624

(b)
Total number of apples that Zoe bought
= 10 p
= 10 x 16
= 160

Total amount that Zoe paid for the apples
= 5 u
= 5 x 8
= $40

Price of each apple
= 40 ÷ 160
= $0.25 

Answer(s): (a) 624; (b) $0.25