Liam and Simon had $180 and $168 respectively. Each of them bought a cardigan and a skirt at the same price. The cost of the cardigan was 5 times as much as the skirt. In the end, Liam had 3 times as much money as Simon. What was the difference between the cost of the skirt and the cardigan?

	Liam	Simon	Difference
Before	$180	$168	$12
Change	- 6 p	- 6 p
After	3 u	1 u	2 u

Since Liam and Simon 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 = 180 - 168
2 u = 12

1 u = 12 ÷ 2 = 6

Cost of 1 cardigan = 5 p
Cost of 1 skirt = 1 p

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

6 p = 168 - 6
6 p = 162

1 p = 162 ÷ 6 = 27

Difference in the cost between the cardigan and the skirt
= 5 p - 1 p
= 4 p
= 4 x 27
= $108

Answer(s): $108