Catherine paid $159.14 for an MP3 player. If the price paid includes a 9% sales tax, which of the following equations can be used to determine the price of the MP3 player before tax? (Let x represent the cost of the MP3 player and y represent the total cost after tax.)

37/3

step-by-step explanation:

step 1: simplify both sides of the equation.

7x+8(x+

1

4

)=3(6x−9)−8

7x+(8)(x)+(8)(

1

4

)=(3)(6x)+(3)(−9)+−8(distribute)

7x+8x+2=18x+−27+−8

(7x+8x)+(2)=(18x)+(−27+−8)(combine like terms)

15x+2=18x+−35

15x+2=18x−35

tep 2: subtract 18x from both sides.

15x+2−18x=18x−35−18x

−3x+2=−35

step 3: subtract 2 from both sides.

−3x+2−2=−35−2

−3x=−37

step 4: divide both sides by -3.

−3x

−3

=

−37

−3

x=

37

3