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A man sold an article for ₹346 by first giving a d% discount on its marked price, and then another discount having the same nominal value (in ₹). If the marked price of the article is ₹1730, then what is the value of d?
44
43
40
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40
Test Option C (d=40): First discount =40% of 1730=₹692. Second discount also =₹692. Total discount =692+692=₹1384. Selling Price =1730−1384=₹346. This instantly matches the given selling price!
Marked Price (MP) = ₹1730, Selling Price (SP) = ₹346, Discount 1 = d%, Discount 2 = ₹N where N is the nominal rupee value of Discount 1.
SP=MP−Discount1−Discount2
Test Option C (d=40): First discount =40% of 1730=₹692. Second discount also =₹692. Total discount =692+692=₹1384. Selling Price =1730−1384=₹346. This instantly matches the given selling price!
Confusing 'another discount having the same nominal value (in ₹)' with a second discount of d% on the reduced price, or failing to realize both discounts have equal rupee value 17.3d.
Express the nominal value of the first discount
The marked price is MP=₹1730. A discount of d% is given, so the value of this discount in rupees is:
Discount1=100d×1730=17.3d
Incorporate the second discount
The question states that the second discount has the same nominal value (in ₹) as the first discount. Thus, both discounts are equal in rupee value:
Discount2=Discount1=17.3d
Set up the equation for Total Discount and Selling Price
The total discount subtracted from the Marked Price yields the Selling Price (₹346):
SP=MP−(Discount1+Discount2)
Solve for d
Substitute the values into the equation and solve for d:
346=1730−(17.3d+17.3d)
Simplify and calculate
Rearrange terms to isolate d:
34.6d=1730−346=1384⟹d=34.61384=40
C is correct because setting d=40 gives a total discount of 2×(40% of 1730)=2×692=₹1384, resulting in a final selling price of 1730−1384=₹346.
Always read discount problems carefully to distinguish between successive percentage discounts (where the second discount is applied to the reduced price) and equal nominal discounts (where the rupee amounts are identical).