A customer needs 60 pencils. If he buys them on sale, how many of the 60 pencils can he get for free?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Answer:
To determine how many pencils the customer can get for free, we need to know the details of the sale. A common sales offer is “Buy X, Get Y Free” — for example, “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” or “Buy 5, Get 1 Free.” Since the sale type isn’t specified, let’s assume the most common promotional deal: Buy 2, Get 1 Free.
Step-by-Step Calculation:
In a Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal:
- Every 3 pencils (2 paid + 1 free) cost the price of 2 pencils.
- So, for every group of 3 pencils, the customer pays for only 2.
To find how many such groups fit into 60 pencils:
- Divide 60 by 3:
60÷3=2060 ÷ 3 = 2060÷3=20
This means:
- The customer will get 20 pencils for free, and
- Pay for the remaining 40 pencils.
Explanation:
To determine how many pencils a customer gets for free in a sale, we must first understand the type of promotion being offered. A frequent type of sale in retail settings is the “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” offer. This means that for every 2 pencils a customer buys, the store gives 1 additional pencil at no extra cost.
The logic behind this deal is to encourage bulk purchases by rewarding the buyer with a free item for every set bought. In this case, when a customer wants 60 pencils, we look at how many complete groups of three pencils can be formed — where each group consists of 2 paid pencils and 1 free pencil. Dividing 60 by 3 gives 20, meaning the customer is buying 20 full sets.
Within each set, one pencil is free. Therefore, in 20 such sets, the customer receives 20 free pencils. The remaining 40 pencils are paid for. This approach ensures that the customer receives the promotional benefit in full, as long as they purchase in multiples of three. If the number was not divisible by 3, such as 61 or 62 pencils, then only full groups would count for the free items, and any leftover pencils would need to be paid for without a discount.
This method is a cost-effective way for customers to maximize value during sales. In conclusion, under a “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” offer, the customer receives 20 pencils free out of the 60 total.
