Luther Vandekampt purchased a basketball from a store and gave the clerk a $20 bill and a $5 bill and received $1.12 in change. If the sales tax rate in his community is 6.5%, what was the selling price for the basketball before taxes?

Question

sweetburger · Answer

So $23.88 is the selling price of the basketball including sales tax. So to find the actual price of the basketball we do this
.065 *x = y 

Now take x+y = 23.88

x would end up being the actual price

i honestly cant think of how to do this except for spamming different values for x and seeing which combo for x and y ends up being equivalent to 23.88

sweetburger · Answer

Theres probably an easier way to do it i just cant think of it.

naudiapie · Answer

$22.42
$22.88
$23.42
$23.88

sweetburger · Answer

Ahh that makes it much easier.

naudiapie · Answer

can you give me an easier equation then?

shadowlegendx · Answer

@sweetburger Should teach @Naudiapie how to solve it without relying on multiple choice answers

sweetburger · Answer

Well unfortunately the equation above will be the simplest to achieve the desired answer.
Each of the answer choices 

a. $22.42
b. $22.88
c. $23.42
d. $23.88
represent values of x in the equation x*.065=y

Ill try out answer choice a. to show you how to do it.

22.42*(.065) = y, so y = 1.46

x+y =23.88
22.42+1.46= (ill let you finish this)

sweetburger · Answer

@ShadowLegendX I would probably just try values of x that i would deem fit in my head and then move in towards a closer answer until i achieved the correct answer.

naudiapie · Answer

22.42+1.46= 23.88

naudiapie · Answer

okay i see :) thanks @sweetburger

sweetburger · Answer

Np glad to help