Answer: $200
Explanation:
The employee pays $172.50 and he got 25% employee discount.
If the cost is $100, he pays $(100 - 25) = $75.
So, employee pays =  
100
75
⋅
172.50
 = $230.00.
Again, price was increased by 15% last year. So whose cost is $100
is sold by $(100+15) = $115.
When sell price is $115, then cost price is $100. Then,
when sell price is $230, then cost price is  
100
115
⋅
230
 = $200.