Final answer:
Jim paid $39.05 for the item.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how much Jim paid for the item, we need to calculate the amount he saved with the 45% discount and subtract it from the regular price. First, we convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing it by 100: 45/100 = 0.45. Then, we multiply the regular price by the decimal to find the savings: $71 * 0.45 = $31.95.
Next, we subtract the savings from the regular price to find the amount Jim paid: $71 - $31.95 = $39.05. Therefore, Jim paid $39.05 for the item.