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Course Outline

Exercise: Find Discount


We created two variables to store the original price of a product in dollars and the discount percentage applied to that price.

Use these two variables and arithmetic operations to compute and print the discount amount in dollars.


Example:

For example, if price was 150 and discount was 10, the answer would be 15.

Why? Because the discount is 10%. And 10% of 150 dollars is 15 dollars.

Introduction

In this lesson, we will learn how to calculate the discount amount in dollars given the original price of a product and the discount percentage. This is a common task in various applications such as e-commerce websites, retail software, and financial calculations.

Understanding how to perform basic arithmetic operations to solve such problems is fundamental in programming and can be applied in numerous real-world scenarios.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the solution, let's understand the basic concepts:

  • Price: The original cost of the product before any discounts.
  • Discount Percentage: The percentage by which the original price is reduced.
  • Discount Amount: The actual amount in dollars that is subtracted from the original price.

To calculate the discount amount, we use the formula:

Discount Amount = (Price * Discount Percentage) / 100

Main Concepts

Let's break down the key concepts and techniques involved:

  • Variables: Store the price and discount percentage.
  • Arithmetic Operations: Perform multiplication and division to calculate the discount amount.

By applying these concepts, we can easily compute the discount amount.

Examples and Use Cases

Consider the following example:

Price = 150
Discount Percentage = 10
Discount Amount = (150 * 10) / 100 = 15

In this case, the discount amount is 15 dollars.

Real-world use cases include calculating discounts during sales, applying promotional codes, and determining final prices after discounts.

Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

  • Forgetting to divide by 100 when calculating the discount amount.
  • Using incorrect data types for price and discount percentage.

Best practices include:

  • Using clear and descriptive variable names.
  • Ensuring proper data types for arithmetic operations.

Advanced Techniques

For more advanced scenarios, you might consider:

  • Handling multiple discounts and combining them.
  • Applying conditional discounts based on certain criteria.

Code Implementation

Here is the C++ code to calculate the discount amount:

#include <iostream> // Include the iostream library for input and output

int main() {
    double price = 150.0; // Original price of the product
    double discount = 10.0; // Discount percentage

    // Calculate the discount amount
    double discountAmount = (price * discount) / 100;

    // Print the discount amount
    std::cout << "The discount amount is: $" << discountAmount << std::endl;

    return 0; // Return 0 to indicate successful execution
}

This code snippet demonstrates how to calculate and print the discount amount in dollars.

Debugging and Testing

To debug and test your code:

  • Check for correct variable initialization.
  • Ensure the arithmetic operations are performed correctly.
  • Write test cases with different price and discount values to verify the output.

Example test case:

Price = 200, Discount = 20, Expected Discount Amount = 40

Thinking and Problem-Solving Tips

When approaching problems like this:

  • Break down the problem into smaller steps.
  • Write pseudocode to outline the logic before coding.
  • Practice with different scenarios to strengthen your understanding.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we covered how to calculate the discount amount given the original price and discount percentage. Mastering these basic arithmetic operations is crucial for solving more complex problems in programming.

Keep practicing and exploring further applications to enhance your skills.

Additional Resources

For further reading and practice, consider the following resources: