Which expression represents the discount amount if you apply a percent change to the original price?

Which expression represents the discount amount if you apply a percent change to the original price?

• A. Original price × percent change
• B. Original price ÷ percent change
• C. Original price plus percent change
• D. Original price − percent change

Answer: (C)

To find the discount amount, you apply the percent change to the original price by multiplying the original price by the rate written as a decimal. That product is how much money is being taken off. For example, a 20% discount uses 0.20, so the discount amount is original price × 0.20. The sale price afterward is the original price minus that discount amount. So the discount amount is best represented by Original price × (percent change as a decimal). The other forms don’t give the money saved: adding would raise the price, dividing changes the scale in the wrong way, and subtracting the rate alone doesn’t yield the actual discount amount.

To find the discount amount, you apply the percent change to the original price by multiplying the original price by the rate written as a decimal. That product is how much money is being taken off. For example, a 20% discount uses 0.20, so the discount amount is original price × 0.20. The sale price afterward is the original price minus that discount amount. So the discount amount is best represented by Original price × (percent change as a decimal). The other forms don’t give the money saved: adding would raise the price, dividing changes the scale in the wrong way, and subtracting the rate alone doesn’t yield the actual discount amount.