Question

Henry purchased 3 items during a sale. He received a 20 percent discount on the regular price of the most expensive of the 3 items and a 10 percent discount on the regular price of each of the other two items. What was the total amount of the 3 discounts

Answer 1

Combining statement 1 and statement 2 is sufficient

Explanation:

There are 3 items purchased

Most expensive item=20% discount

The other two items=10% discount each

Statement 1: The average (arithmetic mean) of the regular prices of the 3 items was $30.

Assume:

The 3 items cost: $40, $30 and $20 respectively,

Total discount =20% of $40 + 10% of $30 + 10% of $20

=$8 + $3 + $2

= $13

Assume

The 3 items cost: $50, $30 and $10 respectively,

Total discount = 20% of $50 +10% of $30 + 10% of $10

=$10 + $3 + $1

= $14

Therefore, statement 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Statement 2: The most expensive item was $50

The discount for the most expensive item at $50 = 20% of $50

= 0.2*$50

=$10

But we don't know the price of the other 2 items, so we can't determine the discounts.

Therefore, Statement 2 is also INSUFFICIENT

Combining statement 1 and 2

1) The average (arithmetic mean) of the regular prices of the 3 items was $30.

So, the SUM of the 3 items = $90

2) The most expensive item is $50

So the OTHER 2 items sum up to $40

$50 item gets 20% discount and the other two items ($40) each get 10% discount

The discount = 20% of $50 + 10% of $40

=0.20*50 + 0.1*40

=$10 + $4

=$14

Combining the two statements is sufficient