In mathematics, a discount refers to a reduction in the original price of a product or service. It is commonly used in the context of sales, promotions, or special offers, where the seller offers a lower price to attract customers. The discount is usually expressed as a percentage or a fixed amount subtracted from the original price.
The concept of discounts has been around for centuries, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient civilizations. In ancient Rome, for example, merchants would offer discounts to soldiers as a way to boost sales and show appreciation for their service. Over time, the practice of offering discounts has evolved and become a common marketing strategy used by businesses worldwide.
The concept of discounts is typically introduced in elementary or middle school mathematics, around grades 4-7. It is a fundamental concept that helps students understand the relationship between original prices, discounts, and final prices. As students progress to higher grade levels, they may encounter more complex discount problems involving multiple discounts or compound interest.
The concept of discount involves several key knowledge points, including:
To calculate the discounted price, follow these steps:
For example, if a shirt originally costs $50 and is on sale for 20% off, the discount would be $50 * 0.20 = $10. The discounted price would then be $50 - $10 = $40.
There are several types of discounts commonly used:
Some properties of discounts include:
To find or calculate the discount, follow these steps:
The formula for calculating the discount is:
Discount = Original Price * Discount Rate
Where:
To apply the discount formula, substitute the values of the original price and discount rate into the equation and calculate the discount. Then, subtract the discount from the original price to find the discounted price.
For example, if the original price is $100 and the discount rate is 20%, the discount would be $100 * 0.20 = $20. The discounted price would then be $100 - $20 = $80.
The symbol commonly used to represent a discount is "%", which stands for percentage. It is often placed after the discount rate to indicate that it is a percentage reduction.
There are various methods for applying discounts, depending on the context and purpose. Some common methods include:
Example 1: A pair of shoes originally costs $80. They are on sale for 25% off. What is the discounted price?
Solution: Discount = $80 * 0.25 = $20 Discounted price = $80 - $20 = $60
Example 2: A store offers a buy one, get one free (BOGO) deal on shirts. If the original price of a shirt is $30, how much would two shirts cost?
Solution: Since it's a BOGO deal, the price of one shirt is halved. Discounted price per shirt = $30 / 2 = $15 Total cost for two shirts = $15 + $15 = $30
Example 3: A store offers a volume discount on laptops. If the original price of a laptop is $1000 and the discount rate is 10% for purchasing 5 or more laptops, how much would it cost to buy 6 laptops?
Solution: Discount = $1000 * 0.10 = $100 Discounted price per laptop = $1000 - $100 = $900 Total cost for 6 laptops = $900 * 6 = $5400
Question: What is a discount? Answer: A discount is a reduction in the original price of a product or service.
Question: How is a discount calculated? Answer: A discount can be calculated by multiplying the original price by the discount rate (if it's a percentage) or subtracting the discount amount (if it's a fixed amount).
Question: Can multiple discounts be applied? Answer: Yes, multiple discounts can be applied sequentially to further reduce the price.
Question: What are some common types of discounts? Answer: Some common types of discounts include percentage discounts, fixed amount discounts, buy one, get one free (BOGO) deals, and volume discounts.
Question: How is a discount represented? Answer: The symbol commonly used to represent a discount is "%", which stands for percentage. It is often placed after the discount rate to indicate that it is a percentage reduction.