Question

Shopping: Discounts Situation: You want to buy three books that are on sale at 20% off. The original prices of the books are $2.50, $4.95, and $6.00. How much will you save? Calculation With Distribution Calculation Without Distribution (Show all steps.) (Show all steps.) I think it is easier: to distribute. to not distribute. Why I Think it is Easier

Answer 1

Let's begin by listing out the information given to us:

Discount = 20%

Book prices: $2.50, $4.95, and $6.00

Taking discount with distribution, we have:

`\begin{gathered} discount=0.2(2.50+4.95+6.00) \\ discount=0.5+0.99+1.2 \\ discount=\text{\$}2.69 \end{gathered}`

Taking discount without distribution, we have:

`\begin{gathered} \text{Sum of books = 2.50 + 4.95 + 6.00 =13.45} \\ discount=0.2(13.45)=2.69 \\ discount=\text{\$}2.69 \end{gathered}`

I think it is easier to not distribute. This is because it reduces significantly the chances of numerical error in computing