what percent of the original price are you paying?

Question

A publisher marks up a textbook by 55%, and a bookstore further marks up the textbook by 25%. What percentage of the original cost do you pay?

Answer 1

p represents the original price

(1.55)p              first markup

(1.25)(1.55)p     second markup

1.9375p

 

You pay 193.75% of the original price.

 

Answer 2

You pay 1.55 times 1.25 times the PUBLISHER'S COST.  This single factor equals 1.9375, which is a cumulative markup of 93.75%.  (The "1" part in each of these decimal factors is the part that includes base before an increase.)

Answer 3

x=the price of the book

55% of x=0.55x

x+0.55x=1.55x

25% of 1.55x=0.25*1.55x

0.25*1.55x=0.3875x

1.55x+0.3875x=1.9375x

1.9375x=193.75% of x

you pay 193.75% of the original cost of the book