Question

At a sale this week, a suit is being sold for $296.40. This is a 62% discount from the original price. What was the original price?

Answer 1

Rounded: $478.06

Explanation:

Set up an equation:

Variable x = original price

62/100 = 296.40/x

Cross multiply

62 × x = 100 × 296.40

62x = 29,640

Divide both sides by 62:

x = 478.064516....

Round to nearest cent (hundredths place):

x = 478.06

Check your work (using the rounded estimate will be close to $296.40 but not exact because it is rounded; once you round your answer and it should match):

478.06 × 62%

Convert the percentage into a decimal:

478.06 × 0.62

296.3972

Round to the nearest cent (hundredths place):

296.40

Answer 2

Suppose the original price to be x.
62%x=296.4
Divide both sides by 62% to get x=478, which is the original price.