Simple maths question?

Question

By selling a laptop at its original price, James could make a profit of $500. Since the model of the laptop was outdated, he sold it at 80% of its original price. As a result, he incurred a loss of $400. How much did James buy the laptop?

Answer 1

Let the original price of laptop is x dollars.

By selling a laptop at its original price, James could make a profit of $500.

So, the cost price of laptop is (x - 500) dollars.

The selling price of laptop = 80% of original price = (80/100)x = 4x/5.

Here loss is 400 dollars.

Loss = Cost price - Selling price.

400 = (x - 500) - 4x/5.

900 = x - 4x/5.

900 = (5x - 4x)/5.

900 = x/5.

4500 = x.

The original price of laptop is x = 4500 dollars.

The cost price of laptop = x - 500 =4500 - 500 = 4000 dollars.