To find out the answer, we must first see the rationale behind this question. If 40 percent of the original number is 56, then definitely the original number must be greater than 56. Or to put it mathematically if 40 percent = 56, then 100 percent (which is the original number) must be greater than 56. So we make a calculation based on this rationale.
40% = 56 100% = x
where x stands for the unknown number, which in our case is the original number we need to find out.
