At a plant nursery, a potted orchid was reduced by 20% in a sale and its sale price became $36. After the sale, the nursery restored the orchid to its original price.
- Find the original price of the orchid before the sale.
- Find the percentage increase when the price went from the sale price back to the original price.
Need a hint?
In (a), the $36 is the price after a 20% cut, so it stands for 80% of the original, not 100%. In (b), the percentage is always taken of the starting price, which is $36.
Worked answer
- (a) Sale price of $36 is 100% - 20% = 80% of the original price.
- (a) 80% = $36, so 20% = $36 ÷ 4 = $9.
- (a) 100% = 5 × $9 = $45, so the original price was $45.
- (b) Increase = $45 - $36 = $9.
- (b) Percentage increase = $9 ÷ $36 = 14 = 25%.
The mistake this question tests
Found the increase, not the new price
Pupils take 20% of $36 and add it on, giving $43.20. The $36 is already the reduced price, so the 20% must be worked back from the original amount.
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See the answer →Practise PSLE percentage until the mistakes stop.
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