Due to the economy and not wanting to eliminate any jobs, all state employees were asked to accept a 4.5% reduction in their salaries. If the reduction to a state secretary's salary was $1890, what was the secretary's salary prior to the reduction?

Answer: The secretary's salary prior to the reduction was $42,000.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hi, to answer this question we have to write an equation:

The original secretary's salary (x) multiplied by the percentage reduction in decimal form (4.5/100) must be equal to the amount of the reduction (1890)

Mathematically speaking:

x (4.5/100) = 1890

Solving for x:

x (0.045) = 1890

x = 1890 / 0.045

x = 42,000

The secretary's salary prior to the reduction was $42,000.