SOLUTION: On Wednesday, the price of Thanksgiving pies was discounted 20%. On Thursday, the pies were discounted an additional 70%. What was the combined percent discount?

Question 1139004: On Wednesday, the price of Thanksgiving pies was discounted 20%. On Thursday, the pies were discounted an additional 70%. What was the combined percent discount?

Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let the original purchase price of the pie be equal to x.

with a 20% discount, the sale price of the pie was (1 - .20) * x = .80 * x.

with a 70% discount on the sale price, the final sale price was (1 - .70) * .80 * x = .30 * .80 * x = .24 * x.

the original price was x.

the final price was .24 * x.

the overall discount was 1 - .24 = .76 * 100 = 76%.

the first discount was .20 * x, making the sale price equal to x - .20 * x = .80 * x.

the second discount was .70 * .80 * x = .56 * x, making the sale price equal to .80 * x - .56 * x = .24 * x.

add up the discounts, you get .20 + .56 = .76 = 76%.

as an example, assume the original price of the pie was 15 dollars.

with a 20% discount, the first sale price was 15 - .20 * 15 = 12 dollars.

with a 70% discount on the sale price of 12 dollars, the second sale price was 12 - .70 * 12 = 3.6 dollars.

the original price was 15 dollars.

the final sale price was 3.6 dollars.

the discount was 15 - 3.6 = 11.4 dollars.

11.4 / 15 = .76 * 100 = 76% overall percent discount.

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