Tuxedo Sale Price: 20% Off $425 - Step-by-Step Calculation

Have you ever found yourself staring at a sale price tag, wondering exactly how much you're saving? Or maybe you're trying to budget and need to calculate the final cost of an item after a discount? Today, we're going to break down a real-world math problem that many shoppers encounter: calculating the sale price of an item after a percentage discount. Let's take the scenario of Jeremy, who's eyeing a tuxedo with a 20% discount.

Understanding the Discount

In this case, Jeremy is looking at a tuxedo that originally costs $425, but it's on sale with a 20% discount. The key here is understanding what a percentage discount means. A 20% discount means that the price of the tuxedo is reduced by 20% of its original price. To figure out the sale price, we need to calculate this discount amount and subtract it from the original price. This involves a few steps, but don't worry, we'll walk through them together. Understanding percentages is crucial not only for shopping but also for various other real-life scenarios, such as calculating tips, understanding interest rates, and even interpreting statistics. So, let's dive in and make sure we're comfortable with the process. Remember, math isn't just about numbers; it's about solving problems and making informed decisions in our everyday lives.

Step 1: Calculate the Discount Amount

The first step in figuring out the sale price is to calculate the amount of the discount. To do this, we need to find 20% of the original price, which is $425. In mathematics, "percent" means "out of 100," so 20% is equivalent to 20/100, or 0.20 as a decimal. To find 20% of $425, we simply multiply these two numbers together: $425 * 0.20. This calculation gives us the discount amount in dollars. It's important to remember that converting percentages to decimals (or fractions) is a fundamental skill in percentage calculations. Many people find it helpful to think of "percent" as a way of expressing a part of a whole, where the whole is 100. Once we have the decimal equivalent of the percentage, we can easily use it in multiplication to find the corresponding portion of any number. So, let's go ahead and perform that multiplication to uncover the monetary value of Jeremy's 20% discount.

Step 2: Performing the Calculation

Now, let's perform the multiplication to find the discount amount. Multiplying $425 by 0.20, we get $85. This means that the discount on the tuxedo is $85. This step is crucial because it tells us exactly how much money is being taken off the original price. Understanding how to perform this calculation is a valuable skill, not just for this specific problem, but for any situation where you need to determine a percentage of a value. Whether you're figuring out a sales discount, calculating a tip at a restaurant, or determining the amount of interest you'll earn on a savings account, the process is the same. You convert the percentage to a decimal and then multiply it by the total amount. In this case, we've found that Jeremy is saving a significant amount of money on the tuxedo, which is excellent news for his wallet! But, we're not done yet. We still need to find the final sale price.

Step 3: Subtract the Discount from the Original Price

Now that we know the discount amount is $85, the next step is to subtract this amount from the original price of $425. This will give us the sale price of the tuxedo. So, we perform the subtraction: $425 - $85. This step is where we see the actual savings come into play. By subtracting the discount, we're determining the final price that Jeremy will pay for the tuxedo. This is a common practice in retail and sales, where discounts are used to attract customers and clear out inventory. Understanding how to calculate the final price after a discount empowers you to make informed purchasing decisions and ensures that you're getting the best possible deal. So, let's carry out this subtraction and reveal the sale price of the tuxedo.

Step 4: Calculating the Sale Price

Performing the subtraction, $425 - $85, we get $340. This means that the sale price of the tuxedo is $340. By completing this step, we've successfully determined how much Jeremy will pay after the 20% discount is applied. This final sale price is what he'll see on his receipt at the checkout. Knowing how to calculate these discounts is incredibly helpful in real-life shopping situations. It allows you to quickly assess whether a sale is genuinely a good deal and helps you to budget effectively. Plus, it gives you the confidence to understand exactly how much you're saving. So, the next time you're faced with a discount, you'll have the tools to figure out the sale price with ease. But let's recap the entire process to make sure we've got it down pat.

Conclusion: Final Answer and Key Takeaways

Therefore, the sale price of the tuxedo after the 20% discount is $340. We arrived at this answer by first calculating the discount amount (20% of $425), which was $85, and then subtracting that amount from the original price. This step-by-step approach is a reliable way to tackle percentage discount problems. Let's recap the key steps we took to solve this problem:

1. Calculate the discount amount: Multiply the original price by the discount percentage (expressed as a decimal). In our case, $425 * 0.20 = $85.
2. Subtract the discount from the original price: This gives you the final sale price. Here, $425 - $85 = $340.

Understanding how to calculate discounts is a practical skill that can save you money and make you a more informed shopper. The ability to quickly determine the sale price of an item allows you to compare prices, assess deals, and make smart purchasing decisions. Moreover, the principles we've discussed here are applicable to a wide range of scenarios, from calculating tips to understanding financial concepts like interest rates. So, whether you're shopping for clothing, electronics, or anything in between, you'll be well-equipped to handle percentage discounts like a pro! For further learning on mathematical concepts and problem-solving strategies, you might find helpful resources at websites like Khan Academy, which offers free courses and tutorials on various math topics.