selling price plus the 8 percent state sales tax was $15,714

[popcorn]

Gwen bought a new Toyota Corolla. The selling price plus the 8 percent state sales tax was $15,714. What was the selling price?

[DrMike]

I'll solve a different problem. Maybe this will help.

Joe ate a meal at a restaurant. The bill, including 15% service charge, was $46. How much was the bill before the service charge was added?

Suppose the bill, before service charge, was B.

The service charge was 15% of this, or 15/100 x B.

The total bill was therefore B + 15/100 B = 1.15 B.

But I know that this makes $46, so 1.15 x B = $46. Logically, then, B = $46 / 1.15, which comes to $40. Therefore the bill, before the service charge was added, is $40.

[Loren]

The selling price plus the 8 percent state sales tax was $15,714.

This really says "The selling price plus 8 percent of the selling price was $15,714."

First --- name stuff.

Let p represent the selling price.

Now, translate phrase by phrase.

The selling price plus 8 percent of the selling price was $15,714.
.............p............+.....08............X... .......p...............=....15,714.

Solve for p.