A seller wants to replace two successive discounts of 15% each with one discount that gives the same final price. What should that single discount be?

27.75%Correct answerYour answer28.5%Correct answerYour answer30%Correct answerYour answer72.25%Correct answerYour answer

Show the answer and explanation

CorrectNot quiteAnswer A

Correct answer: A

Fraction paid = $0.85 \times 0.85 = 0.7225$ .
Single discount = $1 - 0.7225 = 0.2775 = 27.75\%$ .

Worth noting

Shortcut: $15 + 15 - \frac{15 \times 15}{100} = 27.75\%$ . The single discount is always less than the sum, and 72.25% is the part paid, not the discount.

Concept: Equal successive discounts as one discount
Typical timeTypical: 50 s
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The rule this testsSuccessive discounts

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A seller wants to replace two successive discounts of 15% each with one discount that gives the same final price. What should that single discount be?

Explanation