Luis and Valen had $199 and $123 respectively. Each of them bought a cardigan and a skirt at the same price. The cost of the cardigan was 3 times as much as the skirt. In the end, Luis had 5 times as much money as Valen. What was the difference between the cost of the skirt and the cardigan?

	Luis	Valen	Difference
Before	$199	$123	$76
Change	- 4 p	- 4 p
After	5 u	1 u	4 u

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

5 u - 1 u = 199 - 123
4 u = 76

1 u = 76 ÷ 4 = 19

Cost of 1 cardigan = 3 p
Cost of 1 skirt = 1 p

Total cost of 1 cardigan and 1 skirt
= 3 p + 1 p
= 4 p

4 p = 123 - 19
4 p = 104

1 p = 104 ÷ 4 = 26

Difference in the cost between the cardigan and the skirt
= 3 p - 1 p
= 2 p
= 2 x 26
= $52

Answer(s): $52