Tammy spent $48 on some pencils, notebooks and pens. The number of pencils she bought was ³₄ the number of notebooks. The number of pens she bought was ¹₂ the number of notebooks. The ratio of the amount of money she spent on the pencils, notebooks and pens was 7 : 8 : 1. The notebooks were sold at 4 for $6. Find the price of 1 pencil.

Amount spent
Pencils	Notebooks	Pens	Total
7 u	8 u	1 u	$48

Total amount that Tammy spent on pencils, notebooks and pens
= 7 u + 8 u + 1 u
= 16 u

16 u = 48

1 u = 48 ÷ 16 = 3

Amount that Tammy spent on notebooks
= 8 u
= 8 x 3
= $24

Number of sets of notebooks of 4 bought
= 24 ÷ 6
= 4

Number of notebooks that Tammy bought
= 4 x 4
= 16

Number of items bought
Pencils	Notebooks	Pens	Total
3x1	4x1
	2x2	1x2
3 p	4 p	2 p	9 p

The number of notebooks bought is repeated.  Make the number of notebooks bought is the same.  LCM of 4 and 2 is 4.

Number of notebooks that Tammy bought = 4 p

4 p = 16

1 p = 16 ÷ 4 = 4

Number of pencils that Tammy bought
= 3 p
= 3 x 4
= 12

Amount that Tammy spent on pencils
= 7 u
= 7 x 3
= $21

Price of 1 pencil
= 21 ÷ 12
= $1.75

Answer(s): $1.75