Let's solve this problem step-by-step.
STEP-BY-STEP SOLUTION:
Let the original price = x
To begin with, we will convert the word problem into an equation as displayed below:
( x / 2 ) - 8 = 18
Now, to find the original price we will simply make ( x ) the subject and solve accordingly as displayed below:
( x / 2 ) - 8 = 18
( x / 2 ) = 18 + 8
( x / 2 ) = 24
x = 24 × 2
x = $48
CHECKING THE ANSWER:
In order to check if the answer is correct, simply substitute the value of x into the original equation and solve. If the left-hand and right-hand side are equivalent, then the answer is correct as displayed below:
( x / 2 ) - 8 = 18
( 48 / 2 ) - 8 = 18
24 - 8 = 18
18 = 18
Therefore, the answer is:
x = $48
