Discount Notes for SSC Exams

Discount is a part of the profit and loss chapter, but SSC asks it as a separate topic with its own tricks. One question usually comes from it in each Tier 1 paper. These discount notes for SSC explain the terms, formulas, successive discount and "buy and get free" offers with solved examples.

Basic Terms

• Marked Price (MP): the price printed on the article (list price).
• Discount: the reduction given on the marked price.
• Selling Price (SP): the price after the discount.
• Discount is always calculated on the marked price.
• If an article is sold at its marked price, the discount is zero.

Discount Formulas

Successive Discount

When two discounts are given one after the other, the second discount is applied on the reduced price. So we cannot simply add them. Use the formula d1 + d2 - d1d2/100. For discounts of 30% and 20%, the single equivalent discount is 30 + 20 - 6 = 44%. The order of the discounts does not matter.

Buy and Get Free Offers

In an offer such as "Buy 3, get 1 free", you pay for 3 items but receive 4. The discount is the free items divided by the total items: 1/4 = 25%. In "Buy 4 and get 1 free", the discount is 1/5 = 20%.

Discount in Real Life and Exams

Shops often give a flat discount, a successive discount or a "buy one get one" offer. In the exam, you may be asked to compare two offers and choose the better one. Convert each offer into a single equivalent discount and the larger percentage is the better offer. For example, a single 35% discount is better than successive discounts of 20% and 15%, which equal only 32%.

Solved Examples

Example 1: The marked price of a shirt is Rs 800 and a discount of 15% is offered. Find the selling price.
Solution: SP = 800 x 85 / 100 = Rs 680.

Example 2: An article marked at Rs 600 is sold for Rs 540. Find the discount percentage.
Solution: Discount = 60. Discount % = 60 / 600 x 100 = 10%.

Example 3: Find the single discount equal to two successive discounts of 30% and 20%.
Solution: Single discount = 30 + 20 - (30 x 20 / 100) = 50 - 6 = 44%.

Example 4: A shop offers "Buy 3, get 1 free". What is the discount percentage?
Solution: Free = 1, total = 4. Discount = 1/4 x 100 = 25%.

Example 5: After a discount of 20%, a bag is sold for Rs 960. Find its marked price.
Solution: MP = 960 x 100 / 80 = Rs 1,200.

Example 6: A shopkeeper marks his goods 50% above cost price and allows a discount of 20%. Find his profit percentage.
Solution: Profit % = 50 - 20 - (50 x 20 / 100) = 50 - 20 - 10 = 20%.

Quick Tips to Solve Faster

• Never add successive discounts directly; use d1 + d2 - d1d2/100.
• Discount is always on the marked price, and profit is on the cost price.
• Use the multiplier method: a 20% discount means multiply by 0.8.
• For "buy x get y free", find the free quantity as a fraction of the total.
• To find the marked price, divide the selling price by the multiplier.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Calculating the discount on the cost price.
• Adding two successive discounts.
• Taking the selling price as the marked price.
• Treating "buy 3 get 1 free" as 33% discount instead of 25%.
• Mixing the profit percentage with the discount percentage.

Quick Revision Points

• SP = MP x (100 - d) / 100.
• Successive discount = d1 + d2 - d1d2/100.
• Buy x get y free: discount = y/(x + y) x 100.
• Discount is on MP; profit is on CP.
• Multiplier for d% discount = (100 - d)/100.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. The marked price of a coat is Rs 1,500 and the discount is 18%. Find the selling price.
   Answer: Rs 1,230 (1500 x 0.82).
2. An item with a marked price of Rs 2,400 is sold for Rs 2,040. Find the discount percentage.
   Answer: 15% (360 / 2400).
3. Find the single discount equal to 25% and 20% successive discounts.
   Answer: 40% (25 + 20 - 5).
4. A shop offers "Buy 4, get 1 free". Find the discount percentage.
   Answer: 20% (1/5).
5. An item marked at Rs 2,000 is given two successive discounts of 20% and 25%. Find the selling price.
   Answer: Rs 1,200 (2000 x 0.8 x 0.75).
6. After a 15% discount, an item is sold for Rs 1,700. Find the marked price.
   Answer: Rs 2,000 (1700 / 0.85).
7. A shopkeeper marks goods 40% above cost and gives a discount of 25%. Find his profit percentage.
   Answer: 5% (40 - 25 - 10).
8. A shirt marked at Rs 600 is given a 20% discount and then a further 10% discount. Find the final price.
   Answer: Rs 432 (600 x 0.8 x 0.9).
9. Find the single discount equal to two successive discounts of 10% each.
   Answer: 19% (10 + 10 - 1).
10. The cost price of an article is Rs 800. The shopkeeper wants a 25% profit after a 20% discount. Find the marked price.
    Answer: Rs 1,250 (SP = 1000, MP = 1000 / 0.8).

How to Practise This Chapter

1. Learn the formulas in the table until you can write them without looking.
2. Solve the solved examples again on your own, without reading the solution.
3. Attempt the practice questions above with a timer of 10 minutes.
4. Solve the matching SSC profit and loss practice paper to test yourself in exam style.
5. Check the previous year papers to see how SSC frames this topic.

Related Notes and Practice Papers

• Profit and Loss Notes
• Percentage Notes
• Ratio and Proportion Notes
• Mixture and Alligation Notes
• SSC Profit and Loss Practice Paper

Explore More SSC Subjects

SSC exams test many subjects, so connect this topic with the related subjects below:

• Reasoning Notes
• Statistics Notes
• Indian Economy Notes
• English Notes
• General Awareness Notes
• All SSC subjects and notes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is discount in maths?

Discount is the reduction given on the marked price of an article.

How many questions come from discount in SSC exams?

Usually one question comes from discount in SSC Tier 1, apart from the questions in profit and loss.

On what price is discount calculated?

Discount is always calculated on the marked price.

What is the formula for successive discount?

Single equivalent discount = d1 + d2 - (d1 x d2 / 100).

How do I find the selling price after a discount?

SP = MP x (100 - d) / 100.

What is the discount in a "buy 3, get 1 free" offer?

The discount is 25% because you get 1 free out of 4 items.

Does the order of successive discounts matter?

No, the final price is the same for any order of discounts.

How should I practise discount?

Learn the formulas, solve the examples here and then practise the profit and loss practice paper.