Suppose you pay $88 for a pair of shoes that has been discounted 20%. What is the original price of the shoes before the discount?

Step 1. identify the unknown variable

Step 2 set up a proportion that represents the problem

Step 3 solve the proportion showing all work!

Step 4 clearly state your answer in a complete sentence.

It is already given in the problem that the discounted price of the pair of shoes is $88. The percentage of discount given is 20%. Now we have to find the original price of the pair of shoes.

Let us assume the original price of the pair of shoes = x

Then we can write the equation as

20x/100 + 88 = x

x/5 + 88 = x

x + (88 * 5) = 5x

x + 440 = 5x

x - 5x = - 440

4x = 440

x = 440/4

= 110

So the original price of the pair of shoes before the discount is $110.