I am having a very hard time understanding how to find cost of the car in this question. I don't understand how sales tax work?

Question

Miles paid $5,824, including 4% sales tax, for an out-of-state purchase of a car. In order to calculate the amount of sales tax he owes in his state, he must first determine the price of the car without sales tax. How much did the car cost before sales tax?

Answer 1

Let x = the cost of the car before sales tax:

 

Cost of Car before sales tax + Sales Tax = $5824

x + 0.04x = $5824

1.04x = $5824

 

Solve for x.