Question

Seth buys last year's best-selling novel, in hardcover, for $17.85 $⁢17.85 . This is with a 15% 15% discount from the original price. What was the original price of the novel?

Answer 1

$21.00

let the original price = 100%

then the discount price = 100 - 15 = 85%

divide $17.85 by 85 to obtain 1% then multiply by 100 to obtain original price.

original price = $17.85 ×
`(100)/(85)` = $21

Answer 2

The original price of the novel is $ 21.

Explanation:

Let x be the original price of the novel,

Discount percentage = 15%,

The amount of discount = 15% of the original price of the novel

= 15% of x

`=(15x)/(100)`

= 0.15x

Thus, the price of the book after discount = x - 0.15x

= 0.85x

According to the question,

0.85x = 17.85

`\implies x = (17.85)/(0.85)=21`

Hence, the original price of the novel is $ 21.