Answer: the original price of the skirt is $24
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the original price of the skirt. if the original price of the blouse is 18, then the original price of the skirt and blouse is (x + 18)
Jade buys a blouse and a skirt for 3/4of their original price. It means that the amount at which she bought the skirt and blouse is
0.75(x + 18)
Applying the distributive property, it becomes
0.75x + 13.5
Jade pays a total of 31.50 for the two items. It means that
0.75x + 13.5 = 31.5
0.75x = 31.5 - 13.5
0.75x = 18
x = 18/0.75
x = $24