Joseph went shopping and spent three-eighths of his money on clothes. He then spent two-fifths of the remaining money on shoes for his brother. With what was left, he spent $3.50 on soda. Working backwards from the $3.50 amount, it is determined that Joseph must have initially had $28 with him.

1. Evelyn Learning Systems
Question:
Joseph goes shopping and spends three-eighth of his money buying clothes.
Two-fifth of the remaining amount, he spends on buying shoes for his little
brother. He spends one third of the remaining amount on soda pop before
leaving for home. If the soda cost him $3.5, how much did he have initially
when he went shopping?
(a). $28
(b). $35
(c). $24
(d). $30
(e). $25
Solution:
We will begin from the end, as that’s where we have a known amount$3.5.
The amount$3.5was one-third of the remaining amount. So before this
point, Joseph must have had$3.5×3.
This$3.5×3was two-fifth of the remaining amount. So before this point, he
must have had
 
 
 
5
$3.5×3×
3
.
This
 
 
 
5
$3.5×3×
3
was three-eight of what he had in the beginning. Hence,
before Joseph’s first buy, he must have had
   
   
   
5 8
$3.5×3× ×
3 5
, which is $28 .