Thread: Find percentage.

If someone could please explain this to me, and show me how to put it into an equation. Here is the question.

An elastic is stretched by 86% to a new length of 5.8m. Calculate the original length of the elastic.

Originally Posted by caperjay

If someone could please explain this to me, and show me how to put it into an equation. Here is the question.

An elastic is stretched by 86% to a new length of 5.8m. Calculate the original length of the elastic.

The original lentgh plus 85% of its original length equals its new length.

Let x be the original length. Then .

Originally Posted by nmatthies1

Let x be the original length. Then .

ok that part makes sense, how do I solve for x. Im really new at this stuff.

Originally Posted by caperjay

ok that part makes sense, how do I solve for x. Im really new at this stuff.

Combine like terms. Then, divide. Make sense?