The material here is a sample from the book:

Living Maths 2B

Each of the sample pages from the eight core books in the Living Maths series attempts to show a different facet of the series. (Please note that some of the formatting is lost in presenting this page for the web).

Visitors to this site are free to download this page for use in their classroom.

Living Maths 2B, pages 24, 25:

NEWSPAPER SEARCH

CAN I GET A DISCOUNT?

Percentages are often used in advertising.

This advertisement for Burswood Public Golf Course shows that you can get a percentage discount of 33% if you play before July 31st.

TASK 1:

1. (a) Which would be a better discount, $20 off or 20% off?

(b) What information do you need to answer this question?

(c) When would the $20 be better?

(d) When would the 20% be better?

A percentage discount gives a better idea of how much has been taken off the price of an item. To determine a percentage discount the following formula is used:

For example: The Golf Course advertisement quoted 9 holes of golf for $8 instead of $12.

Percentage discount =

TASK 2:

2. Calculate the percentage discount on each of these items:

TASK 3:

Look at this advertisement for mobile phones:

3. What is the percentage discount for each phone?

4. Which mobile phone gives the best percentage discount?

TASK 4:

This advertisement claims a discount of 30%.

5. Calculate whether or not this claim is accurate.

TASK 5:

This advertisement for galvanised pipe shows a series of price reductions claimed to be 40% off.

6. Determine whether this is correct for each of the sizes.

7. Which of the discounts is slightly less than 40%?

TASK 6:

8. Collect and display five advertisements from a newspaper that show a discount.

9. Calculate the discount for each item.

10. Calculate the percentage discount for each item.

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