You know that

T = 4.5% × H

Where T is the Tax and H the total inheritance.

To figure out the total inheritance you simply divide the Tax by the Percentage, so

H = T/4.5%

In your case the inheritance would have been 622 and a bit grand

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4.5% x Inheritance=$28,000. This can then be arranged to read Inheritance=$28,000/4.5% Inheritance equals $622,222.22. Don’t forget that 4.5% mathematically is represented as .045.

Just to add a bit that helps me understand what I'm doing with problems like this - the words for what's happening. $28k is 4.5% of what? which then becomes the equation 28k=.045*x

This is incorrect.

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The words for what’s happening is exactly how I think about it. Good addition.

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That's not the right method to use here. The 28 grand the person paid is just the tax, just the 4.5%, not the tax plus inheritance. The inheritance is the amount they're getting, not the amount they're paying.

Another good math tip is to check your work using common sense. Dude surely did not pay $28k on a $26794 inheritance.

This is why teachers teach approximation. My wife is a 5th grade teacher and reminds her students to ask themselves “does my answer make sense?” Can I really pay more than I actually inherited???!!!

Thank you very much. :)

Thank you very much. :)