BUSINESS SPEAK · %
%: Percent
Per hundred.
What it means
Percent means “out of 100”. 25% of something is that thing × 0.25. Percentages of different bases don’t add up, which is why stacked discounts and up-then-down changes surprise people.
Where you’ll meet it
- 25% off, then another 25% off, is 43.75% off — not 50%.
- A 20% fall followed by a 20% rise leaves you 4% down.
Worked example
Scenario: A jacket costs 80. It is 25% off, then another 25% off at the till.
- First: 80 × 0.75 = 60
- Second: 60 × 0.75 = 45
- Total off: (80 − 45) ÷ 80 = 43.75%
Answer: You pay 45 — a 43.75% discount, not 50%.