plz help

quantskillsgmat wrote:owner of an art shop on a regular basis keeps on increasing the prices of all products by x%,then after sometime, he will reduce the price by x%. This constitute one cycle.At the end of one cycle the price of painting reduced by $441, and at the end of second such cycle he sold it at $1944.81.what was original price of painting in dollars.
a)2756.25
b)2256.25
c)2500
d)2000

We can plug in the answers, which represent the original price.

In the first cycle, the original price is reduced by 441.
Since the STARTING PRICE in the second cycle is lower, the REDUCTION in the second cycle will be less than 441.
Thus, the original price must be somewhat less than 1944 + 2(441) = 2826.
The most likely answer choice is A.

As we evaluate the answers, we must bear in mind the following:
In each cycle, there is a STARTING PRICE and a REDUCTION.
From one cycle to the next, the STARTING PRICE and the REDUCTION must decrease by the SAME PERCENTAGE.
If the STARTING PRICE from the first cycle to the second cycle decreases by 10%, then the REDUCTION from the first cycle to the second cycle must also decrease by 10%.

Answer choice A: 2756.25
Percent decrease in the STARTING PRICE from the first cycle to the second cycle = 441/2756.25 * 100 = 16%.
Starting price in the second cycle = 2756.25 - 441 = 2315.25.
Reduction during the second cycle = 2315.25 - 1944.81 = 370.44.
Percent decrease in the REDUCTION from the first cycle to the second cycle = (441 - 370.44)/441 * 100 = 16%.
Success!

The correct answer is A.