Number exceeds its own 20% by 40: A number is greater than 20% of itself by 40. What is that number?

Introduction / Context:
Translate a verbal statement about a number’s relationship to its own percentage into an algebraic equation. These appear often in profit-loss language and growth problems where a quantity is compared to a fraction of itself and an absolute difference is given.

Given Data / Assumptions:
Let N be the number. “Exceeds 20% of itself by 40” means N − 0.20N = 40.

Concept / Approach:
Compute the left side: N − 0.20N = 0.80N. Equate to 40 and solve for N by dividing. This yields a quick one-step calculation once properly translated.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
20% of 50 is 10; 50 is 40 more than 10, so the statement holds perfectly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
60 gives 12 as 20% and the difference would be 48; 80 gives diff 64; 320 gives diff 256; 40 is not consistent with the equation.

Common Pitfalls:
Misreading “exceeds … by 40” as a percentage or using the wrong base. Keep distinction between absolute differences and percentage relations clear.

Final Answer:
50