If 25% of an item is 13, what is the original number?

The answer is 52.

One way to solve is 13 x 4.

25% = 1/4 so multiply by 4 to find the full 100%.

To double check it multiply

52 x .25 (percent in decimal form)
It should equal 13.

25% is also equal to 1/4. This is because % really means "over 100" so 25/100 simplified is 1/4.

If 1/4 of a number is 13, we can set up the equation, (1/4)x=14, where x is the original number. Multiplying by 4 to cancel out the fraction, we get that x=56, which is your answer.

:)