Monday, July 20, 2026

Percent Change and Successive Discounts UPCAT Reviewer: Lesson and Practice

TEACHER ABI UPCAT MATHEMATICS

Percent Change and Successive Discounts

Use multipliers to compare changes quickly and avoid adding successive percentages.

5-10 minute lesson27 original questionsAdaptive practiceSaves progress
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Percent Change and Successive Discounts

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Percent change acts on a base amount

Convert each percent change into a multiplier. An increase of r% uses 1+r; a decrease uses 1−r, with r written as a decimal. For successive changes, multiply the factors in the order they occur. To recover an original amount, divide the final amount by the combined multiplier.

New value

new = original × multiplier

Original value

original = new ÷ multiplier

DO IT FAST

See the multiplier shortcut in a real discount

Problem: A ₱1,000 bag is discounted by 20%, then by another 10%. What is the final price?

Recognize: Each discount acts on the price left after the previous discount.

Do it fast: 20% off means keep 80%, or ×0.80. Then 10% off means keep 90%, or ×0.90.

₱1,000 × 0.80 × 0.90 = ₱720.

The overall discount is ₱280, or 28%—not 30%.

Why it works

The second 10% is taken from ₱800, not from the original ₱1,000. That is why successive percentages must be multiplied.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Five forms you should recognize

1. Percent increase

A ₱750 fee increases by 12%.

₱750(1.12)=₱840
2. Single discount

A ₱1,600 item is 25% off, so the customer pays 75%.

₱1,600(0.75)=₱1,200
3. Successive discounts

Twenty percent off followed by 10% off leaves:

0.80(0.90)=0.72

The customer pays 72%, so the effective discount is 28%—not 30%.

4. Recover the original

A fee becomes ₱920 after a 15% increase.

original=₱9201.15=₱800
5. Equal increase and decrease

A 20% increase followed by a 20% decrease gives:

1.20(0.80)=0.96

The final value is 4% below the original because the two percentages use different bases.

COMMON TRAPS

Check before you commit

  • Adding successive discounts
  • Using the percent as the final multiplier
  • Subtracting a percent from pesos
  • Multiplying backward when finding the original
  • Assuming equal increase and decrease cancel
  • Rounding too early
FIVE-FORM SKILL CHECK

Do you need the lesson-or just practice?

One original question in each form recommends your next step. It does not yet verify mastery.

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Foundations

Build the core procedure with immediate explanations.

Core Practice

Use mixed forms with less scaffolding.

UPCAT-Style Transfer

Apply the competency in unfamiliar representations.

FRESH MASTERY CHECK

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A score of 5/5 verifies mastery. An unsuccessful attempt loads a different five-form bank.

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Percent Change and Successive Discounts FAQ

Why are there two mastery sets?

A different five-question set appears after an unsuccessful attempt so memorizing one set does not verify mastery.

Does 5/5 mean I never need this topic again?

It verifies this competency today; revisit it later through mixed practice.

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