Final answer:
To find the original price of the car, set up the equation 3x + $1000 = $16000. Subtract $1000 from both sides and divide by 3 to solve for 'x', giving an original price of $5000.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the original price of the car, we can set up an equation. Let's represent the original price of the car as 'x'. We are given that the selling price is $1000 more than three times the original price, so we can write the equation: 3x + $1000 = $16000.
To solve this equation, we'll start by subtracting $1000 from both sides: 3x = $15000. Then, divide both sides by 3 to isolate 'x': x = $5000.
Therefore, the original price of the car was $5000.