SOLUTION: When a number is decreased by 20% of itself, the result is 20. What is the number?

Question 558896: When a number is decreased by 20% of itself, the result is 20. What is the number?
Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x equals the number.
x - .2 * x = 20
combine like terms to get:
.8 * x = 20
divide both sides of this equation by .8 to get:
x = 20 / .8
simplify to get:
x = 25
confirm by substituting in the original equation.
25 - .2 * 25 = 20
25 - 5 = 20
20 = 20
x is confirmed to be good.
-----
decimal equivalent for 20% is 20% divided by 100% = .2
x - .2 * x is equivalent to x * (1 - .2) which becomes x * .8 which is the same as .8 * x.

RELATED QUESTIONS
when a number is decreased by 20% of itself, the result is 20. What is the number? (answered by nerdybill)

When a number is decreased by 20% of itself, the result is 56. What is the... (answered by addingup,MathTherapy,fractalier)

when a number is decreased by 40%of itself,the result is 36. What is the... (answered by rfer)

when a number is decreased by 30% of itself, the result is 56. what is the number? (answered by stanbon)

when a number is decreased by 10% of itself, the result is 180. What is the... (answered by rfer)

When a number is decreased by 30% of itself, the result is 126. What is the... (answered by Stitch)

I cannot figure this out at all! I have tried and tried. Please help! Thanks!! When a... (answered by kkasko,stanbon,rapaljer)

This is more of a word problem. When a number is decreased by 25% of itself, the result... (answered by CharlesG2)

When a number is decreased by 30 of itself ,the result is 28 . What is the number ? I... (answered by Fombitz)