<PRE><B>Question 216577</B>
The total cost of a dress is $41.85, after applying the 8% sales tax.  What is the cost of the dress before the sales tax? I know the answer is$38.75, but I don;t know how to find out the answer.  Thank you!


Step 1.  8% means 0.08 or 8%=0.08.


Step 2.  Total cost of dress = cost of dress + tax 


where tax=0.08*x where x is the cost of the dress


Step 3.  Then {{{41.85= x+0.08x=1.08x or x=$38.75}}} after dividing by {{{1.08}}}


Step 4.  ANSWER:  The cost of the dress is $38.75.


I hope the above steps were helpful.


For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit 

http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit 

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Good luck in your studies!


Respectfully,
Dr J</PRE>