Question

Rachel pays $131.44 for a desk, including tax. The tax is 31 cents less than 1 16 the desk's price. What is the price for the desk before adding the tax?

Answer 1

$ 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)/(16)x - 0.31` ( 1 dollar = 100 cents ⇒ 1 cent = 0.01 dollar ),

Thus, the total amount paid = original price of desk + tax

`=x + (1)/(16)x - 0.31`

`\implies x + (1)/(16)x - 0.31 = 131.44`

`(16x + x)/(16)=131.44 + 0.31`

`(17x)/(16)=131.75`

`\implies x =(131.75* 16)/(17)=7.75* 16 = 124`

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