Find the regular price.

Question

Complete the exercise by replacing the answer blanks with the correct number from the problem situation or with the word UNKNOWN.
The sale price of a pair of shoes is $49, which is 20% off the regular price. Find the regular price.

Answer 1

Let's let X = the regular price of the shoes

Ok. So there are 2 ways you can solve this.

1) you can say that since $49 is 20% less than the regular price, then it is also 80% of the regular price

so 80% of the regular price ("of" means multiplication) equals $49.

Therefore, .80X = 49

Solve for X: X =49/.80 = 61.25    So regular price is $61.25

2) you can say that $49 is 20% less than regular price , so :

 X - .20X= 49

Factor out the X...... : X(1 - .20) = 49

so .80X = 49 and again you have X = $61.25