Valen and Reggie had $189 and $179 respectively. Each of them bought a skirt and a jacket at the same price. The cost of the skirt was 5 times as much as the jacket. In the end, Valen had 3 times as much money as Reggie. What was the difference between the cost of the jacket and the skirt?

	Valen	Reggie	Difference
Before	$189	$179	$10
Change	- 6 p	- 6 p
After	3 u	1 u	2 u

Since Valen and Reggie bought the same items at the same price, the difference in the amounts they had remains unchanged at first and in the end.

3 u - 1 u = 189 - 179
2 u = 10

1 u = 10 ÷ 2 = 5

Cost of 1 skirt = 5 p
Cost of 1 jacket = 1 p

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

6 p = 179 - 5
6 p = 174

1 p = 174 ÷ 6 = 29

Difference in the cost between the skirt and the jacket
= 5 p - 1 p
= 4 p
= 4 x 29
= $116

Answer(s): $116