9702 /www/nrich/html/content/id/9702/ 1 2012-12-06T17:19:58 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0">Fred is very confused! He&#39;s been looking at some trainers that are on sale.<br></br> Before the sale they cost £25.<br></br> The shop says there is a sale on all footwear today.<br></br> BUT on the red price label of the pair he likes, it says there is an extra saving of 5% on all trainers with a red label.<br></br> <br></br> Fred thinks these are a good buy!<br></br> BUT...how does he work out how much they are going to cost him?<br></br> <br></br> Does he: <ul> <li>take off 10% first, then 5% after that?</li> <li>take off 5% first then 10% after that?</li> <li>take off 15% straight away?</li> </ul> Does it make any difference? How do you know?<br></br> What would you tell Fred to tell the shop assistant?<br></br> <br></br> What if...the trainers were £50, £100?<br></br> <br></br> Sometimes shop bills show VAT, a tax paid to the government, seperately.<br></br> What if .. the trainers were reduced by 10% but there was a tax of 5% added?<br></br> Would it matter which was calculated first, the VAT or the sale price?<br></br> <br></br></mdoxml> 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 Fred can't decide whether to take off 10% and then 5% or 5% then 10% t get the best price for some trainers he really likes. What should he do?