Mathematical Frustrations in the Office

Here is Mr. AVP's problem:

From A to B, the discount is 20%. From B to C, the discount is 18.7%. What is the discount from A to C.

Or to put it in another way: B is 80% of A. C is 81.3% of B. C is how many percent of A?

 
Solution:
(1) B = .80A
  then, A = B/.80
(2) C = .813B
(3) C = xA.  We are solving for x.
  C / A = x

So,
x = C / A   Substituting, we have:
x = .813B / (B/.80)
x = (.813B/B) (.80)
x = (.831)(.80)
x = 0.6504

Thus, C is 34.9% of A, or from A to C, the discount is 34.9%.

Author's Note: Don't feel bad if you also thought you can simply add the discounts. A mistake such as this is common and forgivable…That is if you are not yet at the top of the corporate ladder. However, if you happen to be a top executive and you realized this just now (or you're still confused), resign now before your company gets bankrupt because of your mathematically wrong business decisions. Shame on you!

Unfortunately, there's more. Tsk, tsk, tsk...