The price of a scooter was increased by $5. After a 20% discount, the scooter sold for $72. What was the original price of the scooter?

Question

Need to show how to solve the percent question

Answer 1

When you increase the price by $5, you simply add 5 to the price.  A 20% discount means that you pay 20% less for what is it worth. 

 

Let x = the original price

 

 

We can write an equation that represents the situation using the variable.

 

(x + 5) - 0.20(x + 5) = 72

 

 

I will explain how this equation came to be. 

 

First we add $5 to the original price.  We end up with (x + 5).  Then we add this new price to the discount.  When we have a discount, we subtract the discount price from the price before the discount was accounted for. 

0.20(x + 5) is the discount price.

 

You follow?

 

Okay.  Now just solve for x from the equation.  I will let you take it from here.

 

Answer 2

Let P = the original price of the scooter (the problem asks us to find P).

 

"The price of a scooter was increased by $5"   means that the new price is P + 5

"After a 20% discount,"    means that the price is adjusted:     (P+5) - 0.20*(P+5)

"scooter sold for $72"    means  72 = (P+5) - 0.20*(P+5)

 

O.K., collect terms:      72 = 0.80*(P+5)

                                  72 = 0.80*P + 4

                                  68 = 0.80*P         (subtract 4 from both sides)

                                  85 = P                 (divide both sides by 0.80)

Checking:

   Is    (85+5) - 0.20*(85+5)  = 72  ?

              90   - 18  = 72     Yes.

Answer 3

Let P = original price.

We increased by $5 which made it P+5

We then took off 20% of the new price or .2(P+5)

The final sale price is $72.... so we have

 

P+5-.2(P+5)=72

 

Solve for P

P + 5 -.2P - 1=72

.8P+4=72

.8P=68

P=68/.8

P=$85