Chapter 2: Problem 29
Solve each equation. Judy bought a coat at a \(20 \%\) discount sale for \(\$ 72\). What was the original price of the coat?
Short Answer
Expert verified
The original price of the coat was $90.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We are given the sale price of a coat which was bought at a 20% discount. We need to find the original price before the discount was applied.
02
Express the Relationship Mathematically
The original price of the coat, when reduced by 20%, results in the sale price of $72. Let's denote the original price as \( P \). A 20% discount implies that Judy paid 80% of the original price. Therefore, \[ 0.8P = 72 \]
03
Solve for the Original Price
To find the original price \( P \), we need to solve the equation \( 0.8P = 72 \). Divide both sides by 0.8 to isolate \( P \): \[ P = \frac{72}{0.8} \] Simplify the division: \[ P = 90 \]
04
Verify the Solution
We found \( P = 90 \). Let's verify: Calculating 20% of \( 90 \), we get \( 0.2 \times 90 = 18 \). After applying the discount, the price becomes \( 90 - 18 = 72 \), which matches the given sale price.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Percentage Problems
Understanding percentage problems is crucial in many real-life situations. A percentage represents a part per hundred, serving as a method to compare quantities or express increases and decreases. In this exercise, the original price of the coat is reduced by a percentage, leading to the final sale price. To express this mathematically, we apply the concept:
- Identify the original whole value. Here, it's the original price of the coat, denoted as \( P \).
- The given percentage, 20%, represents the discount applied to \( P \).
- Calculate what remains after the discount: if 20% is taken off, 80% of the original remains, leading to the equation \( 0.8P = 72 \).
Discount Calculations
Discount calculations are a straightforward but important aspect of percentage problems. They involve finding how much price is reduced when a discount is applied. For this calculation, remember:
- The discount percentage tells you what fraction of the original price is subtracted. In this case, 20% of the original price is the discount.
- Subtract the discount from the original price to find what you'll actually pay.
- In the example, if the original price is \( P \), the discount amount is \( 0.2P \).
- Thus, Judy paid \( P - 0.2P = 0.8P = 72 \), where 0.8 represents the remaining percentage of the price after the discount.
Mathematical Verification
Once you've calculated a solution, verifying its accuracy is a crucial step to ensure your answer is correct. It's a method of checking whether the calculations hold true when reversed. For instance, after finding the original price \( P \), we verify:
- Calculate 20% of the original price \( P = 90 \). Thus, \( 0.2 \times 90 = 18 \).
- Subtract the discount from the original price: \( 90 - 18 = 72 \).
- Compare this result with the given sale price.