Bike Buys

Solution

Amber bought a helmet for $40.
Ike bought gloves and front lights for a total of $40.50.
Tiffany bought front lights and a saddlebag for $46.50.

Explanation

Step 1

Find the sale price of each item.

Item	Original Price	Percent Discount	Discount Amount	Sale Price
Helmet	$50.00	20%	$10.00	$40.00
Biking gloves	$20.00	10%	$2.00	$18.00
Front lights	$25.00	10%	$2.50	$22.50
Rear saddlebag	$30.00	20%	$6.00	$24.00

Step 2
Guess and Check

Amber's one item cost about the same amount as the two items that Ike bought. Amber probably bought the most expensive item—the helmet, for $40.00.

If Amber bought the helmet and Ike spent $0.50 more than she did, Ike's two items must have cost $40.50.

One of Ike's items must have been the front lights, since the lights are the only item whose price includes $0.50.

To find the other item Ike bought, subtract the cost of the lights, $22.50, from the total amount he spent, $40.50.
              $40.50
              –22.50
              $18.00

Ike's second item must have been biking gloves.

Since Tiffany got $3.50 back from $50.00, her two items cost a total of $46.50. She must have bought front lights, since they are the only item in which the price includes $0.50.

To find the other item Tiffany bought, subtract the cost of the lights, $22.50, from the total amount that she spent, $46.50.
              $46.50
              –22.50
              $24.00

Tiffany's second item must have been the rear saddlebag.

Step 3

Find the cost of each purchase.