a pair of pants is on sale , with 10% discount, for $30 . what is the price before it was on sale?

Question

show work thank you 

Answer 1

Let x = the price before it went on sale. 

 

 

We can write an equation using the variable of x.

 

x - 0.10x = 30

 

 

Allow me explain how we came to this equation.  When we multiply the discount rate by the original price, we obtain the discount price.  A discount means that we lower the price, so we must subtract the discount price from the original price.  The result is the sales price.

 

 

Now solve for x from the equation.

 

0.90x = 30

 

      x = 33.33

 

So the original price is $33.33

Answer 2

So the best way to answer this question is draw out a simple proportion.  Because $30 is the price after the reduction of 10% from the original price, $30 = 90% of the original price.  So the proportion is as follows:

90/30 = 100/x

Then you simply cross multiply to find x.

30 x 100 / 90 = x

Therefore, x = 33.33, so the original price of the pants is $33.33.