Tom paid $1,166.40 for a new refrigerator, and that amount included $86.40 of tax. To compare prices across stores he needs the price before tax. What was it?

1. The amount paid is the sticker price plus the tax, so the sticker price is the total minus the tax. 2. Let p stand for the price before tax: p plus 86.40 equals 1,166.40. 3. Subtract 86.40 from both sides: p equals 1,166.40 minus 86.40. 4. Simplify: p equals 1,080.00, so the price before tax was $1,080.00. 5. $1,252.80 adds the tax on again instead of removing it, which double-counts the $86.40. _Source: OpenStax Prealgebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 "Math Models and Geometry", section 9.1 Use a Problem Solving Strategy_