- Calculate the total expenditure by summing the costs of the camera, hat, parking, and planner, which equals \(\$97.53\).
- Add the total expenditure to the final account balance of \(\$208.16\).
- The resulting initial balance is \(\$305.69\).
- The final answer is \(\boxed{\$305.69}\).
Explanation
- Analysis of the Problem
Evelyn's total expenditure is the sum of the costs of the camera, hat, parking, and planner. The given costs are \(\$66.31\), \(\$13.44\), \(\$8.00\), and \(\$9.78\). Her final account balance is \(\$208.16\). To find the initial amount of money in her account, denoted by \(x\), we need to add the total sum of her purchases to her final remaining balance, since the initial amount represents the sum of everything spent and what remains. The relationship is expressed as \(x = (\text{Cost of Camera} + \text{Cost of Hat} + \text{Cost of Parking} + \text{Cost of Planner}) + \text{Final Balance}\).
- Calculation of Initial Amount
First, we calculate the total amount spent on all items:
\[S = 66.31 + 13.44 + 8.00 + 9.78 = 97.53\]
Evelyn spent a total of \(\$97.53\). Now, we add this expenditure to her final account balance of \(\$208.16\) to find the initial amount \(x\):
\[x = 97.53 + 208.16 = 305.69\]
Thus, the initial amount of money in Evelyn's account was \(\$305.69\). Comparing this result with the given options, it matches option (b).
Examples
Understanding how to track personal finances by accounting for total spending versus a remaining balance is a fundamental skill in money management. Just as Evelyn calculated her initial balance by adding her expenses to her final total, you can use this same method to manage your own budget, verify monthly statements, or plan for future savings by keeping track of every transaction.