Question

Awool suit, discounted by 60% for a clearance sale, has a price tag of $648. What was the suits original price?

Answer 1

The suits original price was $1,620

Explanation:

The formula for calculating the change between two values is:

`p = (N - O)/O*100` where `p` is the percent change, `N` is the New Value and `O` is the Old Value. In this problem we are give `p` (-60 - the suit was discount which means the change was negative_ and `N` (`$648`). We can substitute these into the formula and solve for `O`:

`-60 = (648 - O)/O*100`

`-60/100 = (648 - O)/O*100/100`

`-0.6 = (648 - O)/O*1`

`-0.6 = (648 - O)/O`

`O * -0.6 = O * (648 - O)/O`

`O * -0.6 = cancel(O) * (648 - O)/cancel(O)`

`-0.6O = 648 - O`

`-0.6O + O = 648 - O + O`

`(1 - 0.6)O = 648`

`0.4 O = 648`

`(0.4 O)/0.4 = 648/0.4`

`O = 1620`