Tony bought $250 worth of equipment and received successive discounts of 15% and then 5% off the original price. The document asks questions to calculate the discounts Tony received and determine if it is equal to a single 20% discount. It also asks the reader to calculate the equivalent single discount for successive 10% and 20% discounts.

1. VELS EDITION
3RD EDITION
MATHS 8
QUEST for Victoria
INVESTIGATION
CHAPTER 6
SUCCESSIVE DISCOUNTS
At the beginning of this chapter we looked at Tony, the
mechanic, who bought $250 worth of equipment at this tool
store. Tony received 15% off the marked price of all items
and then a further 5% trade discount.
When two discounts are given on the same item or group
of items, they are called successive discounts. In this case
Tony received successive discounts of 15% and 5%.
Is this equal to a single discount of 20%?
QUESTIONS
1 Calculate the amount that was due after Tony was given
the first 15% discount.
2 From this amount, apply the trade discount of 5% to find
the amount that was due.
3 How much is the cash discount that Tony received?
4 Now calculate the amount that would have been due
had Tony received a single discount of 20%. Is this the
same answer?
5 Calculate the amount of cash discount that Tony
received as a percentage of the original bill.
6 Would the discount have been the same had the 5%
discount been applied before the 15% discount?
7 Now try the following problem. Calculate the single
discount that is equivalent to successive discounts of
10% and 20%.
Source: Creative Cohesions – Jennifer Wright.
© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2011