Final answer:
To find the original number, divide 79 by (1 - 8%). The original number to the nearest tenth is approximately 86.9.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the original number, we can work backwards from the given information. Since the number is decreased by 8 percent, the result is 79. To find the original number, we divide 79 by (1 - 8%).
Step 1: Convert 8% to decimal form: 8% = 0.08
Step 2: Calculate the original number:
Original number = 79 ÷ (1 - 0.08) = 79 ÷ 0.92 ≈ 85.87
Therefore, the original number to the nearest tenth is approximately 86.9.