How to calculate a discount
A discount is a percentage off the original price. To find the sale price, multiply the original price by the discount percentage to get the savings, then subtract it from the original price. 25% off $120 saves $30 and leaves $90 to pay.
Watch out for stacked discounts: stores sometimes advertise "20% off, then an extra 10% off" — those compound to about 28% total, not 30%. Apply each discount to the price remaining after the previous one, and remember that discounts apply before sales tax, while coupons may or may not stack with sale items.
Discount examples
- 10% off $50 = $45
- 25% off $120 = $90
- 40% off $80 = $48
- 50% off $35 = $17.50