I need help with a math word problem.

Question

If the number of mortgage applications declined by 9% to 1,795,397, what had been the previous year's number of applications? (Round to the nearest whole number)

Answer 1

Translating the statement into an equation is the first step. Let X be the number of last year's mortgage applications. Then, 1,795,397 is 91% of X. In equation form, that is:

.91*X = 1,795,397

X=1,795,397/0.91

X=1,972,964 (rounded up slightly)