Question

Find the original price of a pair of shoes if the sale price is $11 after a 75% discount.

Answer 1

well, the original price was "x", which oddly enough is the 100%, but but we know that the stilettos are on sale at 75% off, so hmmm that means 100% - 75% = 25%, so the sale price is really 25% of the original, and we happen to know that is $11.

if "x" is 100%, and $11 is 25%, what the dickens is "x"?

`\begin{array}{ccll} amount&\%\\ \cline{1-2} x & 100\\ 11& 25 \end{array} \implies \cfrac{x}{11}~~=~~\cfrac{100}{25}\implies \cfrac{x}{11}=4\implies x=44`