Asher and Mark had $161 and $109 respectively. Each of them bought a blouse and a sweater at the same price. The cost of the blouse was 3 times as much as the sweater. In the end, Asher had 5 times as much money as Mark. What was the difference between the cost of the sweater and the blouse?

	Asher	Mark	Difference
Before	$161	$109	$52
Change	- 4 p	- 4 p
After	5 u	1 u	4 u

Since Asher and Mark 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 = 161 - 109
4 u = 52

1 u = 52 ÷ 4 = 13

Cost of 1 blouse = 3 p
Cost of 1 sweater = 1 p

Total cost of 1 blouse and 1 sweater
= 3 p + 1 p
= 4 p

4 p = 109 - 13
4 p = 96

1 p = 96 ÷ 4 = 24

Difference in the cost between the blouse and the sweater
= 3 p - 1 p
= 2 p
= 2 x 24
= $48

Answer(s): $48