Question

A study indicated that residents of Springtown wasted 7,622 gallons of water this year. That is 85% more than they wasted last year. How many gallons of water did the city's residents waste last year?

Answer 1

Answer: The study indicated that residents of Springtown wasted 7,622 gallons of water this year, which is 85% more than they wasted last year. To find out how many gallons of water the city's residents wasted last year, we need to find out what 85% of 7,622 gallons is and then subtract that amount from the total amount wasted this year.

85% of 7,622 gallons is (85/100) * 7,622 = 6,465.7 gallons

So, if residents of Springtown wasted 7,622 gallons of water this year, which is 85% more than they wasted last year, then they wasted 7,622 - 6,465.7 = 1,156.3 gallons of water last year.

Explanation:

Answer 2

x = 4120 gallons wasted last year

Explanation:

Let x be the amount of water wasted by the residents of Springtown "last year."

They wasted 85% more this year. This would mean that x*(1+ 0.85) = 7622 gallons. [The "(1+0.85)" represents the decimal equivalent to "85% more."

x*(1+ 0.85) = 7622

1.85x = 7622

x = 4120 gallons wasted last year

Check:

Is 7622 85% more than 4120?

(7622-4120)=3502

(3502/42=4120) = 0.85 YES