Linda buys a blazer, a sweater, a jacket and a skirt. The average cost of these items is $44. The total cost of the jacket and the skirt is ³₈ of the total cost of the blazer and the sweater. If the blazer costs $18.30 and the skirt costs $8.40, find the difference in cost between the sweater and the jacket.
Total cost of the 4 items
= 4 x 44
= $176

Total cost of the jacket and the skirt = 3 u
Total cost of the blazer and the sweater = 8 u

Total cost of the 4 items
= 3 u + 8 u
= 11 u

11 u = 176

1 u = 176 ÷ 11 = 16

Total cost of the jacket and the skirt
= 3 u
= 3 x 16
= $48

Cost of the jacket
= 48 - 8.40
= $39.60

Total cost of the blazer and the sweater
= 8 u
= 8 x 16
= $128

Cost of the sweater
= 128 - 18.30
= $109.70

Difference in cost between the sweater and the jacket
= 109.70 - 39.60
= $70.10

Answer(s): $70.10