Question

Warren brought $41.50 to the art supply store. He bought a brush, a sketchbook, and a paint set. The brush was 1 6 as much as the sketchbook, and the sketchbook cost 3 4 the cost of the paint set. Warren had $4.00 left over after buying these items.

Answer 1

The brush costs $2.5

The sketchbook costs $15

And the paint set costs $20

Explanation:

Please refer to the attached image for explanations

Answer 2

Warren paid $2.5 for the brush, $15 for the sketchbook and $20 for the paint set.

Explanation:

If Warren went to the store with $41.5 and left with only $4 then the total amount he spent on the store was:

total spent = 41.5 - 4 = 37.5

Since he bought a brush, a sketchbook and a paint set we have:

brush + sketchbook + paint = 37.5

The prices of each item are related in the following manner:

brush = (1/6)*sketchbook

sketchbook = (3/4)*paint

brush = (1/6)*(3/4)*paint = (3/24)*paint = (1/8)*paint

Using these expressions on the one that represents the total value we will be abble to have only one variable, paint. We have:

(1/8)*paint + (3/4)*paint + paint = 37.5

(1/8)*paint + (6/8)*paint + (8/8)*paint = 37.5

(15/8)*paint = 37.5

paint = 37.5/(15/8) = 37.5*(8/15) = 20

brush = (1/8)*paint = (1/8)*20 = 2.5

sketchbook = (3/4)*paint = (3/4)*20 = 15

Warren paid $2.5 for the brush, $15 for the sketchbook and $20 for the paint set.