Question

The ratio of the skirt to the cost of a blouse is 8:5. If the skirt costs $24 more than the blouse, find the cost of the blouse.

Answer 1

x - the cost of the skirt
y - the cost of the blouse

The ratio of the cost of the skirt to the cost of the blouse is 8:5.

`(x)/(y)=(8)/(5) \\ 5x=8y \\ x=(8)/(5)y`

The skirt costs $24 more than the blouse.

`x=y+24`

Set (8/5)y and y+24 equal to each other:

`(8)/(5)y=y+24 \\ (8)/(5)y-y=24 \\ (8)/(5)y-(5)/(5)y=24 \\ (3)/(5)y=24 \\ y=24 * (5)/(3) \\ y=8 * 5 \\ y=40`

The cost of the blouse is $40.