Yasmin bought several items at the discount store. she paid 8.75 percent sales tax, an amount of $4.59, on the total amount of her purchase. what was the total amount of her purchase before tax was added?

The equation is x(1.0875)=$4.59
The x is the original price
So multiplying by 1.0875 will result you into the price after tax which is 4.59
So your goal is to get x by itself ( x= ) to find the original price before tax
In this problem, x is being multiplied by the tax ( 1.0875 )
So to get it alone you have to divide it by 1.0875
What you do one side you have to do to the other side
So your equation ended up like x = 4.22
So the original price is $4.22

To check your
4.22 x 1.0875 = 4.589
4.589 is rounded to 4.59
So the answer is correct