Question 1169656
Bob bought forks and spoons in the ratio of 4:3 respectively. They were bought for 156 dollars. 
The spoons cost 50 cents more than each fork. The amount he spent on the forks were 12 dollars more than the spoons.
(a) How much did he spend on the spoons
(b) How many forks and spoons did he buy.



Part (a)


<pre>
Let x be the amount spent on the spoons.

Then the amount spent on the forks is (x+12).


The total amount equation is


    x + (x+12) = 156

    2x         = 156 - 12 = 144

    x                     = 72  dollars (spent on the spoons).    <U>ANSWER</U>
</pre>


Part (b)


<pre>
Let F be the number of forks.

Then the number of spoons is  {{{(3/4)F}}}.


Each spoon costs  {{{72/((3/4)*F)}}} = {{{(72*4)/(3F)}}} = {{{96/F}}}  dollars.

Each fork  costs  {{{(156-72)/F}}} = {{{84/F}}}  dollars.


The difference of individual prices is 50 cents, or 0.5 dollars


    {{{96/F}}} - {{{84/F}}} = 0.5,   or


    {{{12/F}}}        = 0.5.


It implies  F = {{{12/0.5}}} = 24.    It is the number of forks. 


Then the number of spoons is  {{{(3/4)*F}}} = {{{(3/4)*24}}} = 3*6 = 18.   
</pre>

Solved.