If a shirt is sold for $40 after a 20% discount, what was its original price?

If a shirt is sold for $40 after a 20% discount, what was its original price?

Correct Answer: 50

Step 1: Understand that the shirt is sold for $40 after a 20% discount.
Step 2: Recognize that a 20% discount means the customer pays 80% of the original price.
Step 3: Let the original price be represented by 'x'.
Step 4: Write the equation to represent the sale price: 0.8 * x = 40.
Step 5: To find 'x', divide both sides of the equation by 0.8: x = 40 / 0.8.
Step 6: Calculate 40 divided by 0.8, which equals 50.
Step 7: Conclude that the original price of the shirt was $50.

Percentage Discount – Understanding how to calculate the original price from a discounted price using percentage.
Algebraic Manipulation – Using algebra to isolate the variable representing the original price.