<PRE><B>Question 1016355</B>
jamie was given money to spend.
let a = the original amt she received
she spent $5 less than 1/3 of her money on a top and $15 more than half of the original amount on a skirt.
if she had $4 left what was the original amount.
:
a - ({{{1/3}}}a - 5) - ({{{1/2}}}a+15) = 4 
Remove the brackets, this changes some signs
a - {{{1/3}}}a + 5 - {{{1/2}}}a - 15 = 4
a - {{{1/3}}}a - {{{1/2}}}a - 10 = 4 
Get rid of those annoying fractions, multiply equation by 6
6a - 2a - 3a - 60 = 24
6a - 5a = 24 + 60
a = $84 is the original amt
:
;
Check this, find actual amt for each item
Top: (1/3)84 -5 = $23
Skirt: (1/2)84 + 15 = $57
then
84 - 23 - 57 = $4
 
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