MATH =NEED HELP

[melbal]

THE SALES PRICE OF A CAR IS $12,590, which is 20% OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE. WHAT IS THE ORIGINAL PRICE? DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANSWER IS GOT.

MELBAl :?: :?:

 

[tkhunny]

What was the answer and how did you get your answer? Please show your work.

Original Price - Discount = Sale Price

Discount = Some Percentage * Original Price

You didn't try "Some Percentage * Sale Price", did you?

 

[soroban]

Hello, melbal!

The sales price of a car is $12,590, which is 20% off the original price.
What is the original price?

You can reason it out like this . . .

\(\displaystyle \text{Let }P\text{ = original price.}\)

You got a 20% discount.
This means: you paid 80% of the original price.

\(\displaystyle \text{Since you paid \$12,590}\)
. . \(\displaystyle \text{we have: }\:80\%\text{ of }P \:=\:12,\!590\)
. . . . . . . . . . . . \(\displaystyle 0.8P \:=\:12,\!590 \quad\Rightarrow\quad P \:=\:\frac{12,\!590}{0.8} \:=\:15,\!737.5\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Therefore, the original price is: }\:\$15,\!737.50\)