Nicole buys a dress, a blazer, a blouse and a shirt. The average cost of these items is $30. The total cost of the blouse and the shirt is ³₅ of the total cost of the dress and the blazer. If the dress costs $12.50 and the shirt costs $12.60, find the difference in cost between the blazer and the blouse.
Total cost of the 4 items
= 4 x 30
= $120

Total cost of the blouse and the shirt = 3 u
Total cost of the dress and the blazer = 5 u

Total cost of the 4 items
= 3 u + 5 u
= 8 u

8 u = 120

1 u = 120 ÷ 8 = 15

Total cost of the blouse and the shirt
= 3 u
= 3 x 15
= $45

Cost of the blouse
= 45 - 12.60
= $32.40

Total cost of the dress and the blazer
= 5 u
= 5 x 15
= $75

Cost of the blazer
= 75 - 12.50
= $62.50

Difference in cost between the blazer and the blouse
= 62.50 - 32.40
= $30.10

Answer(s): $30.10