Jenson had $294 and Carl had $108 at first. Each of them bought an identical cardigan and an identical skirt from the same shop. The skirt cost 4 times as much as the cardigan. In the end, Jenson had 3 times as much money as Carl. What was the cost of the cardigan?

	Jenson	Carl	Difference
Before	$294	$108	$186
Change	- 1 cardigan - 1 skirt	- 1 cardigan - 1 skirt
After	3 u	1 u	2 u

Since Jenson and Carl bought the same items, the difference  in their amounts remains the same.

Difference in the amounts that they had
= 3 u - 1 u
= 2 u

2 u = 294 - 108
2 u = 186

1 u = 186 ÷ 2 = 93

Amount that Carl had in the end
= 1 u
= $93

Cost of 1 cardigan and 1 skirt
= 108 - 1 u
= 108 - 93
= $15

The skirt cost 4 times as much as the cardigan.

Cost of 1 cardigan = 1 p
Cost of 1 skirt = 4 p

Total cost of 1 cardigan and 1 skirt
= 1 p + 4 p
= 5 p

5 p = 15

1 p = 15 ÷ 5 = 3

Cost of the cardigan
= 1 p
= $3

Answer(s): $3