How to solve percent word problem?

Question

 A street vendor buys raincoats for $36 and marks them up by 25%. At the end of the season, he sells them at a discount of 30%. At what cost did he sell it finally?

Answer 1

$36 marked up by 25% is 36 x 1.25 = $45

$45 marked down by 30% is 45 x .70 = $31.50

Answer 2

Karina,

 

25% of $36 dollars is the samething as dividing $36 by 4. This equals $9, the amount that needs to be added to $36. The vendor now has $45, which he discounts at 30%. We know 10% of anything, and 10% of $45 is $4.50. Times this by 3 and we get 30% of $45, which is $13.50. The vendor discounts the raincoat by this amount, leaving $31.50. ($45 -$13.50).

 

Hope this helps!

 

Jacoby

Answer 3

The word "of" usually means multiply.  And, "percent" can be represented as a ratio (25/100) or a fraction (0.25), as well as a percent (25%).

 

In percent problems, the important value is the base.  In other words, "percent of what?"

 

The original purchase was for $36/each, and a 25% markup is (25/100)($36) = $9.  So, the vendor sells the raincoats for $45 (that is, $36+$9).  Notice that 100%*R + 25%*R = 125%*R, so we could shorten the calculation by asking, what is (5/4)*36 ?   It's $45.

 

Now, at the end of the season, $45 is the base for discount percentage.  The discount of 30% of $45 could be subtracted from $45 or we could just ask "What is 70% of $45?"    It is $31.50.

Answer 4

25% = 1/4

1/4 of 36 = 9.

So 36 + 9 = $45 (after he marks them up by 25%)

 

30% = 3/10

10% of  $45 is  $4.50

 

So $4.50 x 3 = $13.50 (30% of $45)

 

Because he's selling them at a discount of 30%, it would be $45 - $13.50 = $31.50.

He sell it finally at $31.50