Answer:
$ 124
Explanation:
Given,
The total paid amount = $ 131.44,
Let x be the original price of desk ( in dollars ),
∵ The tax is 31 cents less than 1/16 the desk price.
So, tax =
( 1 dollar = 100 cents ⇒ 1 cent = 0.01 dollar ),
Thus, the total amount paid = original price of desk + tax





Hence, the price of desk before tax would be $ 124.