Double Discount Calculator

When a store applies a second discount, it is almost always calculated on the reduced price rather than the original price. The core equations governing this process are: First, find the price after the initial markdown using intermediatePrice = originalPrice * (1 - firstDiscount). Next, apply the second discount to this intermediate amount to find the final price: finalPrice = intermediatePrice * (1 - secondDiscount). Total savings are derived via savings = originalPrice - finalPrice, and the combined effective discount rate is calculated as effectiveDiscount = firstDiscount + (1 - firstDiscount) * secondDiscount.

Imagine you want to purchase a designer jacket with an original price of $200. The store is offering a first markdown of 20% off, and a clearance event grants an additional 15% off the already reduced price. First, calculate the price after the initial 20% discount: $200 * (1 - 0.20) = $160. Next, apply the second 15% discount to that $160 intermediate price: $160 * (1 - 0.15) = $136. Your final price is $136, yielding total savings of $64 ($200 - $136). The effective total discount is 32%, which is less than a naive 35% addition, demonstrating the compounding nature of sequential markdowns.

Always verify whether a store stacks percentages additively or sequentially; while rare, some promotions combine rates directly, though standard retail math applies them one after the other. Remember that the order of discounts does not change your final price—taking 20% off and then 10% off yields the exact same cost as taking 10% off and then 20% off. Utilize this calculator before heading to checkout to ensure promotional codes and clearance tags live up to your savings expectations.