Jules buys a washing machine. 20% VAT is added to the price of the washing machine. Jules then has to pay a total of £600 What is the price of the washing machine with no VAT added?

In this question we will label the washing machine as x. In order to answer this question we need to understand that the final price of the washing machine (£600) is the price of the machine without VAT (100% of x ) plus VAT (20% of x ). Therefore 120% of x  = £600. This can also be written as: 1.2x =600. Make x  the subject of the equation by dividing both sides by 1.2 which leaves: x =500 therefore the price of the washing machine without VAT is £500