Question 1119763
Benjamin had a sum of money. He spent $288 on a watch and 3/8 of the remainder of a belt. He had 2/5 of his money left in the end. 

What fraction of the money did he spend on the watch?

How much money did he have at first?


I have no idea how to tackle this question.  Can someone advise how I would calculate?

Thanks in advance.
<pre>Correct answer: {{{highlight_green("$800")}}}. 
Any other answer deserves to be thrown in the GARBAGE, which includes an equation by a person who responded to your math problem.
Let me show it to you: {{{cross(highlight_green((x-288)+(3/8)(x-288)=(2/5)x))}}} <====== <b><u>GARBAGE</b></u>

Let the original amount be A
Then after spending $288, he had A - 288 remaining
After spending {{{3/8}}} of the remaining (A - 288), he had {{{matrix(1,8, 5/8, of, "(A - 288),", or, 5/8, "*", (A - 288), left)}}}
Now, since in the end he had {{{2/5}}} of the original amount remaining, we can say that: {{{matrix(1,7, 5/8, "*", (A - 288), "=", 2/5, "*", A)}}}
{{{matrix(1,3, 5(A - 288)/8, "=", 2A/5)}}}
16A = 5(5)(A - 288) -------- Cross-multiplying
16A = 25A - 25(288)
16A - 25A = - 25(288)
- 9A = - 25(288)
A, or amount he initially had was: {{{highlight_green(matrix(1,7, (- 25(288))/(- 9), "=", (- 25(32cross(288)))/(- cross(9)), "=", (- 800)/(- 1), "=", "$800"))}}}