<PRE><B>Question 1009409</B>
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$60-$14.64=$45.36 
So he paid $45.36
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With sales tax, $45.36 is 108 percent of the sales price.
$45.36/1.08=$42
So $42 was the sales price.
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25% off means he paid 75% of the original cost.
$42/0.75=$56
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ANSWER: The original cost of the coat was $56.
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And the equation would therefore be:
X=original cost
X=($60-$14.36)/(0.75*1.08)
X=$45.36/0.81
X=$56</PRE>