The marked price of an article is Rs 3600 and the actual selling price is Rs 3132.\nWhat is the discount percentage offered on this article relative to its marked price?

Introduction / Context:
This question is a straightforward discount calculation problem. The marked price is the displayed price on the item, while the selling price is the amount the customer actually pays after discount. The aim is to determine the discount percentage based on these two values. This kind of calculation is very common in everyday shopping scenarios as well as in competitive examinations under the profit and loss and discount topics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Marked price (MP) of the article = Rs 3600.
• Selling price (SP) after discount = Rs 3132.
• Discount is the difference between marked price and selling price.
• Discount percentage is calculated on the marked price.
• We must find the discount percentage to two decimal places if necessary.

Concept / Approach:
The discount amount is MP minus SP. Once we know the discount amount, we divide it by the marked price and multiply by 100 to convert it into a percentage. The formula is discount percent = (discount / marked price) * 100. This direct formula avoids confusion and is standard in all discount calculations where marked price and selling price are known.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Marked price MP = Rs 3600. Step 2: Selling price SP = Rs 3132. Step 3: Discount amount = MP - SP = 3600 - 3132. Step 4: Compute 3600 - 3132 = 468. Step 5: Use the formula discount percent = (discount / MP) * 100. Step 6: Substitute values: discount percent = (468 / 3600) * 100. Step 7: Simplify the fraction 468 / 3600. Divide numerator and denominator by 36 to get 13 / 100. Step 8: Therefore discount percent = (13 / 100) * 100 = 13%. Step 9: So the discount offered on the article is 13% of the marked price.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, compute 13% of the marked price and subtract from the marked price. Thirteen percent of 3600 is (13 / 100) * 3600 = 468. Subtracting 468 from 3600 gives 3600 - 468 = 3132, which matches the given selling price. This confirms that the discount percentage is correctly calculated and that the values are internally consistent with the data in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A discount of 12% on 3600 would be 0.12 * 3600 = 432, giving a selling price of 3168, not 3132. A discount of 17.21% would reduce the price by a much larger amount than 468. A discount of 14.94% would also lead to a selling price different from 3132 when applied to 3600. Only a 13% discount produces exactly the given selling price of Rs 3132, so the other options cannot be correct.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to calculate discount percentage using the selling price as the base instead of the marked price, which leads to a different numerical value. Another error is mis subtracting the selling price from the marked price, especially under exam pressure. To avoid these errors, always write out the steps explicitly: compute the discount amount first, then divide by marked price, and finally multiply by 100 to obtain the percentage.

Final Answer:
The discount percentage offered on the article is 13% of the marked price.