At a clearance sale, everything has been marked down \( 13 \% \). How much did a ca originally sell for, if its current price is \( \$ 15,000 \) ? Select one: a. \( \$ 11,277.80 \) b. \( \$ 17,241.38 \) c. \( \$ 14,899.99 \) d. \( \$ 14,388.94 \)

To find the original price before the \( 13\% \) discount, we can set up the equation based on the sale price. The current price of \$15,000 represents \( 87\% \) of the original price (since \( 100\% - 13\% = 87\% \)). If we let \( x \) be the original price, we have: \[ 0.87x = 15,000 \] Now, solving for \( x \): \[ x = \frac{15,000}{0.87} \approx 17,241.38 \] So, the original price was approximately \( \text{b. } \$ 17,241.38 \). Making financial decisions can be tricky, especially with discounts! Always remember to confirm the percentage before you're sold on a deal; numbers can play tricks on us. A little math can save you a lot of money, or help you get the best value for what you spend!