SOLUTION: Can you help with the following question? I think it needs to be laid out in table form first. I'd be grateful for detailed explanation. Thank you. Natalie spent $135 on new sh

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Question 361495: Can you help with the following question? I think it needs to be laid out in table form first. I'd be grateful for detailed explanation. Thank you.
Natalie spent $135 on new shorts and tops. The shorts were 15% off and the tops were 20% off. If she saved a total of $24, how much did she spend on tops?
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let represent the original cost of the shorts. Let represent the original cost of the tops.

Then the amount saved on shorts would be and the amount saved on tops would be . Likewise, the amount spent on shorts would be and the amount spent on tops . So we can write:



and



Multiply the first equation by -4 and then add the equations:



Solve for



Substituting in Equation 1 and solving for



Which was the cost of the tops at regular price, hence she spent:



Sounds like a fire sale at Ross to me.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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