Example

Example: Solving a Word Problem for a Car's Sticker Price

To see the seven-step problem-solving strategy in action, consider the following word problem: Randell paid $28,675 for his new car. This was $875 less than the sticker price. What was the sticker price of the car?

  1. Read: Understand that the problem asks for the original sticker price based on the price paid and the discount amount.
  2. Identify: We are looking for the sticker price of the car.
  3. Name: Let ss represent the sticker price of the car.
  4. Translate: Restate the problem: $28,675 is $875 less than the sticker price. As an equation: }28,675 = s - 875{.
  5. Solve: Add 875 to both sides to isolate the variable ss: 28,675+875=s875+875{}28,675 + 875 = s - 875 + 875 29,550=s{}29,550 = s
  6. Check: Is $875 less than $29,550 equal to $28,675? Yes (}29,550 - 875 = 28,675{).
  7. Answer: The sticker price of the car was $29,550.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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