Question

A Sale at Tinley’s Department Store Tinley’s department store is having a 25% off sale. Victor has a $15 Tinley’s gift certificate that he wants to use towards a sweater with an original price of $32.00. He is unsure which method the sales clerk will use to calculate the amount owed. Method #1: Subtract $15 from the price and take 25% off the resulting price. Method #2: Take 25% off the original price and then subtract $15.

Answer 1

Method 1: $12.75

Method 2: $9

Explanation:

method #1: 32-15 is $17

In order to take off a percentage, we must find that percentage of the amount. To do this, we must multiply by the percent in decimal form, so

`17 * .25 = 4.25`

Now, this amount just represents the percent of 17 we would take off, so we must take that amount off.

`17 - 4.25 = 12.75`

We would pay $12.75

Method #2:

There are a few ways to do this with 25%. we know 25% is 1/4, and 1/4 or $32 is 8. so we can simply take that off from the start. Otherwise, we can follow the method above as follows

`32 * .25 = 8`

Again, this is the amount off so we must subtract.

`32 - 8 = 24`

now, we subtract 15.

`24 - 15 = 9`

We would pay $9 using this method.

Hope this helps!