Example 1
An item marked at ₹5,300 is sold after two successive discounts of 25% and 5%. What is the selling price?
Answer: A) ₹3,776.25
SP = 5,300 × 0.75 × 0.95 = ₹3,776.25. Successive discounts are not simply added.
Discount and Marked Price questions for competitive exams: rules, worked examples and practice
Discount questions start from the marked (list) price. The discount is taken off the marked price, not the cost price.
Key rules and formulas
- Selling price = marked price × (1 − discount%/100).
- Successive discounts a% and b% = a + b − ab/100 overall.
- Profit or loss is still worked out on the cost price.
- Marked price = cost price × (100 + markup%) ÷ 100.
Common traps
- Adding successive discounts directly (10% + 10% is 19%, not 20%).
- Calculating discount on the cost price.
Where Discount and Marked Price is asked
- IBPS Clerk Prelims (Numerical Ability)
- IBPS PO Prelims (Quantitative Aptitude)
- RRB Group D (Mathematics)
- RRB NTPC CBT 1 (Mathematics)
- SBI Clerk Prelims (Numerical Ability)
- SBI PO Prelims (Quantitative Aptitude)
- SSC CGL Tier 1 (Quantitative Aptitude)
- SSC CGL Tier 2 (Mathematical Abilities)
- SSC CHSL Tier 1 (Quantitative Aptitude)
Worked examples
Example 2
An item marked at ₹7,800 is sold after two successive discounts of 25% and 5%. What is the selling price?
Answer: B) ₹5,557.5
SP = 7,800 × 0.75 × 0.95 = ₹5,557.5. Successive discounts are not simply added.
Example 3
An item marked at ₹3,700 is sold after two successive discounts of 20% and 5%. What is the selling price?
Answer: A) ₹2,812
SP = 3,700 × 0.8 × 0.95 = ₹2,812. Successive discounts are not simply added.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discount and Marked Price in competitive exams?
Discount questions start from the marked (list) price. The discount is taken off the marked price, not the cost price.
Which exams ask Discount and Marked Price questions?
On MockBazaar, Discount and Marked Price questions appear in IBPS Clerk Prelims, IBPS PO Prelims, RRB Group D, RRB NTPC CBT 1, SBI Clerk Prelims, SBI PO Prelims, SSC CGL Tier 1, SSC CGL Tier 2, SSC CHSL Tier 1.
What is the most common mistake in Discount and Marked Price?
Adding successive discounts directly (10% + 10% is 19%, not 20%).