Question

A theater group made appearances in two cities. The hotel charge before tax in the second city was $500 lower than in the first. The tax in the first city was 9% , and the tax in the second city was 9.5% . The total hotel tax paid for the two cities was $970 .
How much was the hotel charge in each city before tax?

First city: $

Second city: $

Answer 1

Pre tax in first city = x
pre tax in 2nd city = x - 500

0.09x + 0.095(x - 500) = 970
0.09x + 0.095x - 47.5 = 970
0.09x + 0.095x = 970 + 47.5
0.185x = 1017.50
x = 1017.50/0.185
x = 5500 <== first city

5500 - 500 = 5000 <== 2nd city