Kari spent half of her money at a shoe store in the mall. At the movie theater,
she spent one fourth of her remaining money. Then, she spent $1 on the bus ride
home. She had $5 left. How much money did Kari have whan she arrived at the
mall ?

The algebraic way to do it.

Suppose Kari arrived at the mall with $X.

>>...Kari spent half of her money, at a shoe store in the mall...<<> 

Therefore she walked out of the shoe store with only $X 

>>...At the movie theater, she spent one fourth of her remaining money...<<>

Therefore she walked into the theater with $X, and walked out 
with only  of it, or $X. 

>>...Then, she spent $1 on the bus ride home...<<>

Therefore she got on the bus with $X and got off the
bus with $(X - $1 

>>...She had $5 left...<<>

Therefore     X - 1 = 5
  
Solve that and get

                         X = 16

So she started out with $16.

That's the algebraic way to do it. Now here is the FUN way
to do it:

She ended up with $5. 
Before she got on the bus she had $6, because the bus ride cost $1.
Before she went to the movie she had $8, because spending 1/4 of it
there, or $2, would have left her with the $6 she had when she got 
on the bus. Before she went to the shoe store, she had $16 because 
spending half of it there would have left her with $8 she had when 
she went to the movies. So she had $16 when she arrived at the mall.
Edwin


 

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