Shannon buys a blouse, a sweater, a dress and a shirt. The average cost of these items is $44. The total cost of the dress and the shirt is ⁵₆ of the total cost of the blouse and the sweater. If the blouse costs $13.10 and the shirt costs $11.70, find the difference in cost between the sweater and the dress.
Total cost of the 4 items
= 4 x 44
= $176

Total cost of the dress and the shirt = 5 u
Total cost of the blouse and the sweater = 6 u

Total cost of the 4 items
= 5 u + 6 u
= 11 u

11 u = 176

1 u = 176 ÷ 11 = 16

Total cost of the dress and the shirt
= 5 u
= 5 x 16
= $80

Cost of the dress
= 80 - 11.70
= $68.30

Total cost of the blouse and the sweater
= 6 u
= 6 x 16
= $96

Cost of the sweater
= 96 - 13.10
= $82.90

Difference in cost between the sweater and the dress
= 82.90 - 68.30
= $14.60

Answer(s): $14.60