Question

A store has clearance items that have been marked down by 50%. They are having a sale, advertising an additional 20% off clearance items. What percent of the original price do you end up paying?

Answer 1

`60%` discount given in total, so only `40%` is paid.

Explanation:

So here we need to make a two-step changing factor.
This means that we first take `0.5` (something decreasing by `50%`) times `0.8` (something decreased by `20%`) which is `0.4` (something decreased by `60%`). But better looking:

`0.5xx0.8=0.4`

Now that we have that, we know that we in total get `60` percent off the original price. You can even try this. Let's say we have a shirt that originally costs `20` dollars, then it's `50` percent off so it costs `10` dollars. then `20%` off `10` dollars is `$8`

Or with maths:

`20xx0.5xx0.8=8`

Now try that with our value we got which is `0.4.`

`20xx0.4=8`

Now we know that the total percentage off has to be `60%.`

I know it can be confusing that `0.4` in this case means something which is decreased by `60%` you will work with these stuff when you are working with the changing factor.

`100% -60% = 40%`

Hope this helps

Answer 2

`40%` of the original price is paid.

Explanation:

If a discount of `50%` is given, it means that the price is then `50%` of what it was.

`100%-50% =50%`

Another `20%` of the `50%` is given as discount. So `80%` is left.

`100%-20% = 80%`

Find `80%` of `50%`

`80/100 xx 50/100 = 40/100 = 40%`

`40%` of the original price is all that is paid,