Ryan had $295 and Brandon had $179 at first. Each of them bought an identical sweater and an identical blouse from the same shop. The blouse cost 4 times as much as the sweater. In the end, Ryan had 5 times as much money as Brandon. What was the cost of the sweater?

	Ryan	Brandon	Difference
Before	$295	$179	$116
Change	- 1 sweater - 1 blouse	- 1 sweater - 1 blouse
After	5 u	1 u	4 u

Since Ryan and Brandon 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 = 295 - 179
4 u = 116

1 u = 116 ÷ 4 = 29

Amount that Brandon had in the end
= 1 u
= $29

Cost of 1 sweater and 1 blouse
= 179 - 1 u
= 179 - 29
= $150

The blouse cost 4 times as much as the sweater.

Cost of 1 sweater = 1 p
Cost of 1 blouse = 4 p

Total cost of 1 sweater and 1 blouse
= 1 p + 4 p
= 5 p

5 p = 150

1 p = 150 ÷ 5 = 30

Cost of the sweater
= 1 p
= $30

Answer(s): $30