SOLUTION: Ron bought a computer, listed at $x, at a 15% discount. He also paid a 5% sales tax. After 6 months, he decided to sell the computer secondhand for $y, which was 55% of what he p

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Question 1029329: Ron bought a computer, listed at $x, at a 15% discount. He also paid a 5% sales tax. After 6 months, he decided to sell the computer secondhand for $y, which was 55% of what he paid originally. Express y as a function of x.
My answer: y=-55% = x-15%+5%. I'm very confused?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The 15% discount made the purchase price dollars. The tax may be in addition to the purchase price, so if the 5% tax is based on the LISTED price, then purchase price PLUS the tax becomes .

Fully, what he paid was .

Ron sold the computer for y dollars.

Read through the description one phrase at a time, watching the numbers and any variables, and build-up the expressions and equations, and connect any identified relationships.

This question is a little ambiguous to me, so I ASSUMED the tax is based on the listed price, and not on the price of AFTER DISCOUNT.

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Ron bought a computer, listed at $x, at a 15% discount. He also paid a 5% sales tax. After 6 months, he decided to sell the computer secondhand for $y, which was 55% of what he paid originally. Express y as a function of x.
My answer: y=-55% = x-15%+5%. I'm very confused?

List price: $x
Cost after a 15% discount: .85(x), or .85x
Total cost after paying 5% sales tax: 1.05 * .85x, or .8925x
Considering that he sold it for 55% of the total cost (computer cost, plus sales tax), the selling price, or y = .55(.8925x), or