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.