How do I get this answer?

Question

In 1995 the Acedemy Awards had a peak in viewership. In 2005 views decreased by 40%...which means were left with 33 million viewers. What was the amout of viewers in 1995?

The answer is supposed to be 55 million views....but how do I get to that answer. Im having a hard time laying out the math problem.

Answer 1

Let x be your starting number that you are trying to solve for (1995 viewership).

The word problem tells you that x decreased by 40% equals 33 milliion. So to find x you do this:

x - 40%x = 33 million

60%x = 33 million

0.6x = 33 million

x = 55 million (divide both sides of the above equation by 0.6)

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Answer 2

if then 33 million is what is left without the 40%, then 33 million is essentially 60% of the total.

here's how i'd solve this:

divide 33 by 60 to find out how much 1% is, and then multiply it by 100, for the total.

(33/60)*100 =55

Answer 3

Forty percent less, means 60 percent comes to 33ml. Divide 33ml by 60 to get one percent and multiple by 100 to get the full number in 1995. = 33ml X100 divided by 60 = 55ml.