Maths Question

[HongKongphooey]

I have two weekly wage NET amounts of which 20% has already been taken off to get the net figure paid. I need to find out what the original GROSS amount was and the 20% amount taken off it.
I originally took 20% off the NET amount, but of course this is wrong and doesn't give the correct figure.
The 2 amounts are
£327
£384

Any help would be grateful. thanks in Advance

[Buenchico]

To TAKE OFF 20% you MULTIPLY by 0.8 (to leave you 80%)

So to PUT IT BACK you must DIVIDE by 0.8

£327 divided by 0.8 = £408.75

£384 divided by 0.8 = £480

[jim360]

If the original amount was x then 20% removed from this gives you x - 0.2 x = 0.8x. Hence you have £327 = 0.8x, for example, or x = £327/(0.8).

[sandyRoe]

the first figure is 80% of the gross. multiply by 5/4 to get the original. = £408.75

2nd = £480

[elliemay1]

Divide by 4, then multiply by 5

[HongKongphooey]

Thanks guys!!! DOH, maths was never my strong point...lol (CSE grade 4!)

[Old_Geezer]

Then take away the number you first thought of, and the first two digits are your age, and the second two are the year you were born !

[New Judge]

You do not lose 20% of all your income and the amount left is not simply 80% of that with which you started.

If these are weekly amounts they will also have been subject to National Insurance. Have you taken this into account?

Assuming you have the normal allowances, to be left with £327 you need gross pay of £394 on which you will pay £38 tax and £28 NI. (I've rounded the figures to the nearesr pound). To be left with £384 you neeed to have £478 to start with on which you will pay £55 tax and £39 NI.

[fiction-factory]

I think, NewJudge, we took the question at face value. It's not uncommon for people to have earnings (second jobs, jobs in addition to pension) where tax is deducted at basic rate

[New Judge]

Yes you could be right, ff. Just thought I'd add a bit more information.