Answer to Math Problem of the Week for May 14, 2014

Question: Zack uses a coupon to buy a video game console for 15% off. He also has a $20 gift card, so that he only has to pay $134.70 for video game console. What was the original price of the video game console?

Answer: $182
First, find what the reduced cost of the video game console was.

Zack paid $134.70 and used a $20 gift card, so the reduced cost of the console after the discount is $154.70.

Since the console is 15% off, that means the reduced cost is 85% of the original price of the video game console.

85% of the original cost will give the reduced cost of $154.70.
One way to solve this is to divide $154.70 by the 85%.

154.70 ÷ 0.85 = 15,470 ÷ 85 = 182.
The original cost of the video game console is $182.