SAT Mathematics Practice Test 5

Let x be the original price, in dollars, of the Glenview Street property. After the 40% discount, the price of the property became 0.6x dollars, and after the additional 20% off the discounted price, the price of the property became 0.8(0.6x). Thus, in terms of the original price of the property, x, the purchase price of the property is 0.48x. It follows that 0.48x=140,000. Solving this equation for x gives x=291,

−

666.6

.Therefore, of the given choices, 291,700 dollars best approximates the original price of the Glenview Street property.
Choice A is incorrect because it is the result of dividing the purchase price of the property by 0.4, as though the purchase price were 40% of the original price. Choice C is incorrect because it is the closest to dividing the purchase price of the property by 0.6, as though the purchase price were 60% of the original price. Choice D is incorrect because it is the result of dividing the purchase price of the property by 0.8, as though the purchase price were 80% of the original price.