Madison spent 5/8 of her savings on a microwave oven & a refrigerator. She used 4/7 of the amount she spent to buy the refrigerator. The refrigerator cost $280 more than the microwave oven. How much savings did Madison start with?

Answer 1

let the amount of her savings be x

cost of both = (5/8)x
cost of fridge = (4/7)(5/8)x = (5/14)x

(5/8)x - (5/14)x = 280
15x/56 = 280
15x = 15680
x = 1045.33

Here savings were $1053.33

cost of fridge = ((5/14)(1045.33 = 373.33
cost of both = (5/8)(1045.33) = 653.33
difference = 653.33 - 373.33 = 280
all checks out

Answer 2

m= microwave
r= refrigerator
s= savings

m+r=5/8s
r=4/7 x 5/8s=5/14s
r=5/14s

m=r-280
m=5/14s-280

m + r = 5/8s
5/14s-280 + 5/14= 5/8s
5/14s+5/14s-5/8 = 280
10/112s = 280
s= 280x112/10
s= savings = $3,136

Answer 3

answer = $3,136