How do you solve the percentage question?

Question

If 420 fewer people attended the concert series and attendance is 12% down, what was the total attendance for the previous year?

Answer 1

We have two pieces of information about this year's attendance, so you can solve by setting up an equality equation. Let x be last year's attendance.

 

(1-.12)x = x-420

.88x = x -420

420 = .12x

3500 = x