You purchase a desk for 60% of the original price P. This price is $32 less than the original price. Write and solve an equation to find the original price of the desk.

So purchase desk at 60% of P

new price is 32 less than P

60%=60/100=6/10=3/5

3/5P=P-32

solve for P

multiply both sides by 5 to get rid of fraction

3P=5P-160

subtract 3P from both sides

0=2P-160

add 160 to both sides

160=2P

divide both sides by 2

80=P

the original cost = $80

0.6P=P-$32

$32=1P-0.6P

$32=.4P

P=$80 was the original price