document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=252905>Question 252905</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 1. An instrument store gives a 10% discount to all students off the original cost of an instrument. During a back to school sale an additional 15% is taken off the discounted price. Julie, a student at the local high school, purchases a flute for $306. How much did it originally cost? \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #185021 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><B>richwmiller(17219)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=richwmiller><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=185021\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Since she got 10% off she paid 90%<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Since she got 15% off she paid 85%<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Notice that contrary to some myths it makes no difference which percent is taken first but she does get less than 25% <BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can't just add the 10 and 25 to get 25%\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If they were specific dollars amounts it does matter which is first<BR>\n" );
document.write( "From a math standpoint, why doesn't the order matter? <BR>\n" );
document.write( "What is the property about order of multiplication (and addition) ?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Commutative - Surely you remember that! -lol<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".85(.90x)=306<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=400 dollars <BR>\n" );
document.write( "first she got 10%=40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "which brought it down to 360<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then 15% more= 54 more<BR>\n" );
document.write( "85% *360=306<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".85*.90=.765<BR>\n" );
document.write( "She paid 76.5 percent not 75 %\r<BR>\n" );
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