If an item costs $15 after a 25% discount, what was its original price?

To determine the original price of an item after applying a 25% discount, one can use the relationship between the discount and the final price. If an item costs $15 after a 25% discount, this means that the final price represents 75% of the original price because 100% - 25% = 75%.

To find the original price, you can set up the equation based on this percentage. If we let the original price be 'X', then:

75% of X equals 15.

In mathematical terms, this can be expressed as: 0.75 * X = 15.

To isolate X, you divide both sides of the equation by 0.75: X = 15 / 0.75.

Calculating this gives: X = 20.

Thus, the correct original price of the item is $20.