Sam and Bryan had $156 and $128 respectively. Each of them bought a skirt and a cardigan at the same price. The cost of the skirt was 5 times as much as the cardigan. In the end, Sam had 3 times as much money as Bryan. What was the difference between the cost of the cardigan and the skirt?

	Sam	Bryan	Difference
Before	$156	$128	$28
Change	- 6 p	- 6 p
After	3 u	1 u	2 u

Since Sam and Bryan 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 = 156 - 128
2 u = 28

1 u = 28 ÷ 2 = 14

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

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

6 p = 128 - 14
6 p = 114

1 p = 114 ÷ 6 = 19

Difference in the cost between the skirt and the cardigan
= 5 p - 1 p
= 4 p
= 4 x 19
= $76

Answer(s): $76