Question

While shopping at a clearance sale, Samantha finds a $60.00 dress on sale for 25% off. Samantha also has a 50% off coupon. Which statement correctly summarizes her savings?
Samantha will save $45.00 because the two sales will combine for 75% off the original cost.
Samantha will save $37.50 because she must first find the 25% sale price before taking the extra 50% reduction.
Samantha will save $22.50 because she must first find the 25% sale price before taking the extra 50% reduction.
Samantha will save $15.00 because the two sales will combine for 75% off the original cost.

Answer 1

Hint: you use the coupon after the clearance is accounted for

Answer 2

In this case, I think it makes sense to first adjust the price of the dress to its 25%-off sale price and then apply the 50%-off coupon. (Actually, because both adjustments are done through multiplication, it does not matter which order we apply them; the result will be the same.)

So, if the sale takes 25% off the original price, 25% of 60 is 15, so the price of the dress on sale is 60-15 = 45. (This is also the same as multiplying 60 * 0.75, since 25% off is the same as saying 75% remaining) Then, the 50% off coupon let's us divide the remaining price in half, 45/2 = 22.5. So, from the original price of 60, Samantha saves 60-22.5 = $37.50

You get the same result whether you multiply 60*0.75*0.5 or multiply 60*0.5*0.75; since only multiplication is involved, the order does not matter