Zoe spent $56 on some pencils, staplers and notebooks. The number of pencils she bought was ¹₂ the number of staplers. The number of notebooks she bought was ⁴₅ the number of staplers. The ratio of the amount of money she spent on the pencils, staplers and notebooks was 2 : 9 : 3. The staplers were sold at 5 for $9. Find the price of 1 pencil.

Amount spent
Pencils	Staplers	Notebooks	Total
2 u	9 u	3 u	$56

Total amount that Zoe spent on pencils, staplers and notebooks
= 2 u + 9 u + 3 u
= 14 u

14 u = 56

1 u = 56 ÷ 14 = 4

Amount that Zoe spent on staplers
= 9 u
= 9 x 4
= $36

Number of sets of staplers of 5 bought
= 36 ÷ 9
= 4

Number of staplers that Zoe bought
= 4 x 5
= 20

Number of items bought
Pencils	Staplers	Notebooks	Total
1x5	2x5
	5x2	4x2
5 p	10 p	8 p	23 p

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

Number of staplers that Zoe bought = 10 p

10 p = 20

1 p = 20 ÷ 10 = 2

Number of pencils that Zoe bought
= 5 p
= 5 x 2
= 10

Amount that Zoe spent on pencils
= 2 u
= 2 x 4
= $8

Price of 1 pencil
= 8 ÷ 10
= $0.80

Answer(s): $0.80