SOLUTION: Hi May spent 1/6 of her money on a dress and 2 blouses. The dress costs as much as 3 blouses. She spends 3/4 of the remaining money on a watch. The watch costs $220.50 more than th

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Question 1171261: Hi May spent 1/6 of her money on a dress and 2 blouses. The dress costs as much as 3 blouses. She spends 3/4 of the remaining money on a watch. The watch costs $220.50 more than the dress. How much did she have at first. Thanks



Found 3 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Began with m dollars.
3B, price of one dress
B, price of one blouse

system%28%281%2F6%29m=3B%2B2B%2C%283%2F4%29m=220.5%2B3B%29
.
.

Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Hi May spent 1/6 of her money on a dress and 2 blouses. The dress costs as much as 3 blouses.
She spends 3/4 of the remaining money on a watch. The watch costs $220.50 more than the dress.
How much did she have at first.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


            Ignore the post by @gosgarithmetic,  since his setup is  INCORRECT. 



Let x = How much she had at first (dollars).


She first spent 1/6 of her money - so,  %285%2F6%29x  of her amount remained.


Taking into account that the dress costs as much as 3 blouses, we can write the system of equations in this form

    %281%2F6%29x = 3B + 2B                (1)

    %283%2F4%29%2A%285%2F6%29%2Ax = 3B + 220.50        (2)


Simplify

    %281%2F6%29x = 5B                     (3)

    %2815%2F24%29%2Ax = 3B + 220.50           (4)


Multiply equation (3) by 6 (both sides).  Multiply equation (4) by 24 (both sides).  You will get

    x = 30*B                         (5)

    15x = 72B + 5292                 (6)


From (5), substitute the expression for x into (6). You will get

    15*30*B = 72*B + 5292

    450*B - 72*B = 5292

    378*B = 5292

        B = 5292/378 = 14.


Then from (5) we get the FINAL ANSWER:  

    x = 30*14 = 420 dollars.


ANSWER.  She had originally  420 dollars.

Solved.



Answer by MathTherapy(10551) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Hi May spent 1/6 of her money on a dress and 2 blouses. The dress costs as much as 3 blouses. She spends 3/4 of the remaining money on a watch. The watch costs $220.50 more than the dress. How much did she have at first. Thanks 
The other person who responded is one of the worst people to respond to your request, as the majority of his responses are WRONG! 

Correct answer: Amount she had, originally: highlight_green%28%22%24420%22%29

You'll NEVER get this answer if you follow his "lead."