A merchant marks a certain lamp up 30% above cost.then he gives a customer a 15% discount.if the final selling price of the lamp was $99,what was the approximate cost price?

after a 30% markup the price is cost * 1.30

After a 15% discount, the price is

cost * 1.30 * 0.85 = cost * 1.105

That price is $99, so

1.105 * cost = 99
cost = 99/1.105 = 89.59

cost * 1.30 * (1-0.15) = 99

cost = 99/1.105 = 89.59

didnt get the answer..can u explain pls??

To find the approximate cost price of the lamp, we need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Calculate the selling price after the 30% markup.
To do this, let's assign a variable to the cost price of the lamp. Let's call it "x". Since the merchant marks up the lamp by 30%, the selling price before the discount can be calculated as:
Selling price before discount = x + (30/100) * x

Step 2: Calculate the selling price after the 15% discount.
Since the customer receives a 15% discount, the selling price after the discount is calculated as:
Selling price after discount = Selling price before discount - (15/100) * Selling price before discount

Step 3: Set up an equation using the given information.
The problem states that the final selling price of the lamp was $99. Thus, we can set up the following equation:
99 = Selling price after discount

Step 4: Solve the equation.
Substitute the values obtained in Step 1 and Step 2 into the equation from Step 3, and solve for "x".

99 = (x + (30/100) * x) - (15/100) * (x + (30/100) * x)

Now, we simplify the equation:

99 = x + 0.3x - 0.15x - 0.045x

Combining like terms:

99 = x + 0.155x

Combining the coefficients of "x":

99 = 1.155x

Dividing both sides by 1.155:

99/1.155 = x

x ≈ 85.71

Hence, the approximate cost price of the lamp is approximately $85.71.