1. What is the Original Price Formula?

The Original Price formula calculates the original price of an item before a discount was applied, given the sale price and discount percentage. This is useful for understanding the actual value of discounted items.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( OP \) — Original Price ($)
• \( SP \) — Sale Price ($)
• \( D \) — Discount (as a decimal, e.g., 0.2 for 20%)

Explanation: The formula reverses the discount calculation to find the original price before the discount was applied.

3. Importance of Original Price Calculation

Details: Knowing the original price helps consumers understand the true value of discounts and make informed purchasing decisions. It's also useful for retailers to verify pricing strategies.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the sale price in dollars and the discount percentage. The discount should be between 0% and 99%. All values must be valid positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why can't I just multiply the sale price by the discount?
A: Multiplying sale price by discount gives you the discount amount, not the original price. The formula OP = SP / (1 - D) correctly reverses the discount calculation.

Q2: What if the discount is 100%?
A: A 100% discount would make the denominator zero (1-1=0), which is mathematically undefined. This calculator only accepts discounts up to 99%.

Q3: Can this formula be used for multiple discounts?
A: This formula calculates the original price after a single discount. For multiple successive discounts, the calculation becomes more complex.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise for the given inputs. However, real-world prices may be rounded to the nearest cent, which could cause minor discrepancies.

Q5: Can I use this for currency other than dollars?
A: Yes, the formula works for any currency as long as you're consistent with the currency units for both sale price and original price.