2002 AMC 8 Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 2002 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2002 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

14.

A merchant offers a large group of items at 30%30\% off. Later, the merchant takes 20%20\% off these sale prices and claims that the final price of these items is 50%50\% off the original price. The total discount is
35%35\%
44%44\%
50%50\%
56%56\%
60%60\%
Answer: B
Concepts:percentage
Small hint:
After a 30%30\% discount, 70%70\% of the original price remains.
Big hint:
The second discount is 20%20\% off the sale price, not the original price.
Solution:
Let the original price be x.x. After the 30%30\% discount, the price is 0.70x.0.70x.
Taking another 20%20\% off that sale price leaves 0.80⋅0.70x=0.56x.0.80\cdot0.70x=0.56x.
The customer pays 56%56\% of the original price, so the total discount is 44%.44\%.
Thus, B is the correct answer.
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