In <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Donald Burrill wrote: > On Fri, 14 Dec 2001, Wuensch, Karl L wrote: > > > I came across a table of costume jewelry at a department store with a > > sign that said "150% off. " I asked them how much they would pay me to > > take it all off of their hands. I had to explain to them what 150% > > meant, and they then explained to me how percentages are computed in > > the retail trade: first we cut the price in half (50%). Then we cut > > it in half again. Now we have cut it in half a third time. > > 50% + 50% + 50% = 150% off. > ... > But back to your retail trade: if they advertise a 150% discount > directly, without referring to the sequence of three 50% discounts, might > they not be liable to legal action for misrepresentation? > > -- DFB. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Donald F. Burrill [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 184 Nashua Road, Bedford, NH 03110 603-471-7128 > >
I would tell the clerk in the store, "Ah, you get 150% off by taking 75%-off of 75%-off. I'll take it." (1/16 price vs. 50%-off 50%-off 50%-off =1/8 price). -- ====================================================================== Lee Altenberg, Ph.D. E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ====================================================================== ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list and remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES are available at http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ =================================================================