If a $200 item is discounted by 18%, what is the discount amount?

If a $200 item is discounted by 18%, what is the discount amount?

• A. $164
• B. $72
• C. $36
• D. $18

Answer: (C)

To find the discount amount, multiply the original price by the discount rate written as a decimal. Here, 18% becomes 0.18. So the discount is 200 × 0.18. Compute it as 200 × 0.18 = (200 × 0.1) + (200 × 0.08) = 20 + 16 = 36. Another way: 200 × 18 / 100 = 3600 / 100 = 36. So the discount amount is $36. For context, 164 would be the price after applying the discount (200 − 36), not the discount itself. 72 is 36% of 200, and 18 is 9% of 200—each a different percentage of the original price, not the discount amount.

To find the discount amount, multiply the original price by the discount rate written as a decimal. Here, 18% becomes 0.18. So the discount is 200 × 0.18.

Compute it as 200 × 0.18 = (200 × 0.1) + (200 × 0.08) = 20 + 16 = 36. Another way: 200 × 18 / 100 = 3600 / 100 = 36. So the discount amount is $36.

For context, 164 would be the price after applying the discount (200 − 36), not the discount itself. 72 is 36% of 200, and 18 is 9% of 200—each a different percentage of the original price, not the discount amount.