Help! Just don't understand this problem.

Question

A theater group made appearances in two cities. The hotel charge before tax in the second city was
$1500
lower than in the first. The tax in the first city was
8.5%
, and the tax in the second city was
7%
. The total hotel tax paid for the two cities was
$476.25
. How much was the hotel charge in each city before tax?

Answer 1

x=charge in the first city

x-1500=charge in the second city

(8.5%)(x)+(7%)(x-1500)=476.25

0.085x+0.07x-105=476.25

0.155x-105=476.25

0.155x=105+476.25

0.155x=581.25

155x=581,250

x=581,250/155

x=$3750 charge for the first city

$3750-$1500=$2250 charge for the second city