Question 67263
A 20% discount means that the original price has been reduced by 20%.
To find the original price if the sales price of $36.00 includes a 20% discount, let x = the original price.  The sales price is x - 20% of x and this equals $36.00. The algebra looks like this, after changing the 20% to its decimal equivalent of 0.2:
{{{x - 0.2x = 36}}} Simplify and solve for x.
{{{0.8x = 36}}} Divide both sides by 0.8
{{{x = 45}}}
The original price was $45.00

Check:
{{{45 - 0.2(45) = 45 - 9}}} = 36