Question

The price of a sofa is decreased by 20% to $476. What was its original price?

A)$480
B)$520
C)$595
D)$600

Answer 1

Given:
`\textsf{Decreased by 20\%, Decreased price is \$476}`

Find:
`\textsf{Original price}`

Solution: Looking at the information given and what we need to determine this can simply be done by first creating an expression and inputting the values. We would then simplify the left side and then divide both sides by 0.8 which would isolate the original price and give us the value.

Create an expression

• 
  `\textsf{Initial price}\cdot\textsf{(1 - Decreased percentage) = New price}`

• 
  `\textsf{x}\cdot\textsf{(1 - 0.2) = \$476}`

Simplify the parenthesis

• 
  `\textsf{x}\cdot\textsf{(1 - 0.2) = \$476}`

• 
  `\textsf{x}\cdot\textsf{(0.8) = \$476}`

Divide both sides by 0.8

• 
  `(x\ \cdot\ 0.8)/(0.8) = (\$476)/(0.8)`

• 
  `x = (\$476)/(0.8)`

• 
  `x = \$595`

After creating the expression and solving for the unknown we were able to determine that the best answer would be option C, $595.