Percent grid: three ways to show a discount

Grade 6 mathematics · 15 minutes · Percent

Connect percent, fraction, and decimal representations to find a discount.

Classroom activity

Draw a 10 by 10 grid. A $40 backpack is reduced by 25%.

1. Shade 25 squares. Write the shaded portion as a percent, fraction in simplest form, and decimal.
2. Use your fraction to find the amount taken off the price.
3. Calculate the sale price and label it separately from the discount.
4. Lee says the backpack now costs $25 because the discount is 25%. Explain the error using the grid or a calculation.

Compare drawings in pairs before discussing the prices as a class.

Check understanding

A $30 book is discounted by 20%. State the discount and the final price. Explain which quantity represents 100%.

Teacher guide and answers

25% = 1/4 = 0.25. The discount is $10 and the sale price is $30. Percent describes a fraction of the original price, not a dollar amount. The check discount is $6 and the final price $24; $30 is 100%. Support with 10% first, then double it. Extend by comparing a $10 discount on different original prices.

You may use, print, adapt, and share this example for teaching. Keep the ClassLattice attribution when redistributing the original.

Grade 6 topic reference. Confirm your adopted standards; topic guidance does not certify alignment.