Lesson Percentage Word Problems (discount)

Algebra -> Algebra -> Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> Lesson Percentage Word Problems (discount) Log On

Ad: Algebrator™ solves your algebra problems and provides step-by-step explanations!
Ad: Algebra Solved!™: algebra software solves algebra homework problems with step-by-step help!

Word Problems: Problems on percentages, ratios, and fractions

Solvers

Lessons

Problems, free tutors

Quiz

In Depth

Source code of 'Percentage Word Problems (discount)'

This Lesson (Percentage Word Problems (discount)) was created by by mathick(4)

: View Source, Show
About mathick:

<html><body>A typical word problem involving percentages might look something like this:

Ned got a 12% discount when he bought his new jacket. If the original price, before the discount, was $50, how much was the discount?

Word problems tend to be even wordier than this one.  The solution process involves making the problem simpler and simpler, until it's a math problem with no words.

Step 1.  Identify what they're asking for, and call it x.

x = amount of the discount.

Step 2. Use the information given to write an equation that relates the quantities involved.

12% of 50 dollars = the amount of the discount (x).

Step 3. Translate into Math:(12/100) * 50 = x.

Step 4. Solve for x:6 = x.

This means that Ned's 12% off amounted to a $6 discount.

A few examples of some word problems using this method are in the table below. You can <a href="http://www.mathick.com/mathick.php?topic=percentages">try a sample problem</a> if you'd like to practice and see if you're doing it correctly.

<center><table border = '1'><tr><td>Problems:</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><tt>A. The original price was $160, and Ned got a 20% discount? How much was the discount?

B. The original price was $90, and Ned got a $36 discount. How many percent off was the discount?

C. Ned's discount was 20% off the original price, which meant a $40 discount. What was the original price?</tt></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td>Write an equation:</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><tt>A. What is 20% of 160?

B. 36 is what percent of 90?

C. 40 is 20% of what number?</tt></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td>Translate into math:

is = &ldquo;=&rdquo;

of = &ldquo;*&rdquo;

What = &ldquo;x&rdquo;

5% = &ldquo;5/100&rdquo;, etc. </td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><tt>A. <table border = '1''><tr> <td>What </td> <td>is </td> <td><center>20%</center></td> <td>of </td> <td>160?</td></tr><tr> <td>x </td> <td>= </td> <td>(20/100)</td> <td> * </td> <td>160.</td></tr></table>B. <table border = '1'><tr> <td>36 </td> <td>is </td> <td><center>what %</center></td> <td>of </td> <td>90?</td></tr><tr> <td>36 </td> <td>= </td> <td>(x/100)</td> <td> * </td> <td>90.</td></tr></table>C. <table border = '1'><tr> <td>40 </td> <td>is </td> <td><center>20%</center></td> <td>of </td> <td>what number?</td></tr><tr> <td>40 </td> <td>= </td> <td>(20/100)</td> <td> * </td> <td>x.</td></tr></table></tt></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td>Simplify & solve for x:(This may involve solving a linear equation -

click <a href="http://www.mathick.com/mathick.php?topic=lineq1">here</a> to practice.)</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><tt>A. x = (.2)*160, so x = 32

B. 36 = (.9)x, so x = 40

C. 40 = (.2)x, so x = 200</tt></td></tr><tr></tr></table></center></body></html>