How to Figure Discount Percentages

Calculating discount percentages is really simple and can be done two different ways, which this "how to" will show both ways. This is very useful when making purchases at a store offering a discount on the purchase price.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil

Instructions

Method 1

1. Find out the price of your order. Note that discounts are usually taken off of the order price BEFORE taxes are added. (15% off of a $203.19 order before taxes)

2. Convert discount percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100. (15% / 100 = .15)

3. Multiply the number or price, which the discount will be taken off, by the number derived in Step 2. (203.19 x .15 = 30.4785)

4. Round Up the number found in Step 3 to two decimal points. This is the discount. (30.4785 rounds up to 30.48)

5. Subtract the discount from the order price to get the total price before taxes. ($203.19 - $30.48 = $172.71)

Method 2

1. Find out the price of your order. Note that discounts are usually taken off of the order price BEFORE taxes are added. (15% off of a $203.19 order before taxes)

2. Convert discount percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100. (15% / 100 = .15)

3. Subtract the number derived in Step 2 from 1.00. (1.00 - .15 = .85)

4. Multiply the number or price, which the discount will be taken off, by the number derived in Step 3. (203.19 x .85 = 172.7115)

5. Round Up the number found in Step 3 to two decimal points. This is the total order before taxes with the discount applied. (172.7115 rounds up to 172.71)