Question

A customer at a clothing store is buying a pair of pants and a shirt. The store is having a 20​%-off sale on all pants. The customer has a coupon for 15​% off his entire purchase. The coupon cannot be combined with any other​ offers, so he can choose only one option. Let n represent the original price of the pants and s represent the price of the shirt. Write two equivalent expressions for each option. If the original cost of the pants is ​$25 and the shirt is ​$15​, which option should the customer​ choose?

Answer 1

15​% off his entire purchase is the better option

Explanation:

essentially asking, which is cheaper?

20​% off sale on all pants OR 15​% off his entire purchase

n = original price of pants= $25

s = original price of shirt=$15

---------first option: 20​% off sale on all pants

price of pants with 20% off + price of shirt

= 25(80%)+15

times 80% because you took off 20%; 100-20=80

= 25(0.8)+15

=20+15

= $35

---------second option: 15​% off his entire purchase

(price of pants +price of shirt)*15% off

=(25+15)*(85%)

=(40)*(0.85)

= $34

35>34

second option is cheaper!