Final answer:
By setting up the equation 0.32P = $198.40 and solving for P, we find that the original price of the desk was $620.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the original price of the desk, we need to set up the equation based on the given information. Eric bought the desk for $198.40, which represents 32% of the original price. Let's denote the original price as P. The equation will be 0.32P = $198.40, where 0.32 is the decimal form of 32%. To solve for P, we divide both sides of the equation by 0.32.
So, the calculation would look like this:
P = $198.40 / 0.32 = $620
Therefore, the original price of the desk was $620.