Example

Solving a Word Problem for the Mark-up and List Price of a Painting

To find the amount of mark-up and list price from an original cost and a mark-up percentage, applying the problem-solving strategy allows you to translate the English sentences into algebraic equations. For example, if an art gallery bought a painting for an original cost of $750\$750 and marked the price up 40%40\%, first, let mm equal the amount of mark-up. Translate the phrase "the mark-up is 40%40\% of the original cost" into the equation m=0.40×750m = 0.40 \times 750. Solving this yields m=300m = 300. Thus, the mark-up was $300\$300. Next, let pp equal the list price. Translate the phrase "the list price is original cost plus the mark-up" into the equation p=750+300p = 750 + 300. Solving this yields p=1050p = 1050. After checking that the list price is appropriately greater than the original cost ($1,050\$1{,}050 is more than $750\$750), conclude that the list price of the painting was $1,050\$1{,}050.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-22

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.2 Solving Linear Equations - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Related