A contractor purchases ceramic tile to remodel a kitchen floor. Each tile costs $4.00, and the adhesive and grouting material needed for the whole job costs $15.82. The contractor is charged a total of $655.82, how many ceramic tiles did the contractor purchase?

160 tiles.

Step-by-step explanation:

First let's make an equation.

Each tile costs $4, let's make t=number of tiles.

+$15.82, and the total cost being $655.82

So ideally our equation would look like

4t+15.82=655.82

Now solve.

First, subtract 15.82 on both sides.

4t=640

Second, divide 4 on both sides to make the variable t by itself.

t=160

So, the contractor purchased 160 tiles.

Check the picture below.

bear in mind that, horizonta lines are just y = "some constant", and vertical lines are x = "some constant".