Carl and Tommy had $179 and $143 respectively. Each of them bought a skirt and a shirt at the same price. The cost of the skirt was 4 times as much as the shirt. In the end, Carl had 3 times as much money as Tommy. What was the difference between the cost of the shirt and the skirt?

	Carl	Tommy	Difference
Before	$179	$143	$36
Change	- 5 p	- 5 p
After	3 u	1 u	2 u

Since Carl and Tommy 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 = 179 - 143
2 u = 36

1 u = 36 ÷ 2 = 18

Cost of 1 skirt = 4 p
Cost of 1 shirt = 1 p

Total cost of 1 skirt and 1 shirt
= 4 p + 1 p
= 5 p

5 p = 143 - 18
5 p = 125

1 p = 125 ÷ 5 = 25

Difference in the cost between the skirt and the shirt
= 4 p - 1 p
= 3 p
= 3 x 25
= $75

Answer(s): $75