You bill for lunch was $26.45. This includes a 15% tip. What was the cost of the meal without the tip?

Question

Also need help showing steps

Answer 1

• Your bill of $26.45 represents the entire bill (100%) plus the tip amount (%15) which makes 115%. As a decimal, this is 1.15.
• To find what the cost was without the tip, simply divide the bill total by 1.15
• 26.45/1.15 = 23 
• Thus, the total of the bill before the 15% tip was $23.

Answer 2

If possible, assign variables to the value the question asks you to find. 
Let:  x="the cost of the meal without the tip"

 

Translate:

  "You bill for lunch was $26.45. This includes a 15% tip."   means    x + 0.15x = 26.45

       (note 15% may be written as 15/100 or as 0.15, as needed)

  "What was the cost of the meal without the tip?"    means    report x

 

Now, the easy math:

    x + 0.15x = 26.45

    1.15x = 26.45                      (collect terms)

       x    = $23.00