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/
=================================================================