Hi, there-- Problem: A hotel room bill for 5 nights was $706.25 including a 13% tax. What was the price before tax? Solution: We can solve this by working backwards. We know that the final cost of the room (after tax) was $706.25. The tax rate is 13%, or 0.13 in decimal form. Let's have x be the cost of the room for 5 nights before tax. Let's map this out: [the cost of the room (before tax)] + [13%] = [final cost] In algebra, we have x + 0.13x = 706.25 We solve for x to find the cost of the room. Combine like terms. 1.13x = 706.25 Divide both sides of the equation by 1.13. x = 625 In the context of this problem x=625 means that the cost of the room for five days before tax is $625.00. If you want the daily rate for the room, divide $625.00 by 5. 625.00/5 = 125 The daily rate for the room is $125.00 ~Mrs.Figgy