Basic Mathematics for College Students

If we know the original price and the sale price of an item, we can use the

following formula to find the amount of discount.

544 Chapter 6 Percent

4 Calculate the amount of discount,

the sale price, and the discount rate.

While shopping, you have probably noticed that many stores display signs advertising

sales. Store managers have found that offering discounts attracts more customers. To

be a smart shopper, it is important to know the vocabulary of discount sales.

The difference between the original priceand the sale priceof an item is called

the amount of discount,or simply the discount.If the discount is expressed as a

percent of the selling price, it is called the discount rate.

Sidewalk Sale

Discount rate

25%

Off

Original price $89^80

Men's Air light

Mid-top

Basketball

Shoe

Versatile fitness shoe

for every

training need Sale price

$33^99

Cross Trainer

Original price

$59.99

Ladies' Shoe Sale

30-50% Off

Hurry– These

prices won’tlast!

Finding the Discount

The amount of discount is the difference between the original price and the

sale price.

Amount of discountoriginal pricesale price

If we know the original price of an item and the discount rate, we can use the

following formula to find the amount of discount. Like several other formulas in this

section, it is based on the percent equation discussed in Section 6.2.

Finding the Discount

The amount of discount is a percent of the original price.

Amount of discountdiscount rateoriginal price

amount = percent  base

Finding the Sale Price

To find the sale price of an item, subtract the discount from the original price.

Sale priceoriginal pricediscount

We can use the following formula to find the sale price of an item that is being

discounted.