Question

Nathan wants to buy a sweatshirt and is trying to determine the better buy. He has a 30​% coupon for the​ in-store purchase. The store charges ​$36 for the sweatshirt he wants.​ However, he found the same sweatshirt online for ​$32 and gets 25​% off as a​ first-time buyer. There are no shipping charges. Which is the better​ buy? By how​ much? Use the Polya problem solving method to solve this problem.

Answer 1

Answer:

Buy in-store.

Explanation:

The Polya technique suggests the following steps to solve a problem:

Step 1: Understand the problem.

Nathan is facing two options for buying a new sweatshirt. We need to calculate and compare both prices in order to determine the better buy.

Step 2:  Devise a plan.

To calculate and compare the prices we need to discount the coupons on both options and then buy the sweatshirt with the lower price.

Step 3:  Carry out the plan (solve).

Option A

Price: $36

Discount: -30%

Final price option A : 36 × ( 1 - 30%) = 25.2

Option B

Price: $32

Discount: -25%

Final price option B: 32 × ( 1 - 25%) = 24

 Step 4:  Look back (check and interpret).

Final price option A < Final price option B.

With this analysis in cosideration, we deduce that the better buy is the option A. In-store purchase.