Seth had $314 and Rael had $178 at first. Each of them bought an identical shirt and an identical skirt from the same shop. The skirt cost 5 times as much as the shirt. In the end, Seth had 5 times as much money as Rael. What was the cost of the shirt?

	Seth	Rael	Difference
Before	$314	$178	$136
Change	- 1 shirt - 1 skirt	- 1 shirt - 1 skirt
After	5 u	1 u	4 u

Since Seth and Rael bought the same items, the difference  in their amounts remains the same.

Difference in the amounts that they had
= 5 u - 1 u
= 4 u

4 u = 314 - 178
4 u = 136

1 u = 136 ÷ 4 = 34

Amount that Rael had in the end
= 1 u
= $34

Cost of 1 shirt and 1 skirt
= 178 - 1 u
= 178 - 34
= $144

The skirt cost 5 times as much as the shirt.

Cost of 1 shirt = 1 p
Cost of 1 skirt = 5 p

Total cost of 1 shirt and 1 skirt
= 1 p + 5 p
= 6 p

6 p = 144

1 p = 144 ÷ 6 = 24

Cost of the shirt
= 1 p
= $24

Answer(s): $24