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Apply sequential percentage operations multiplicatively, not additively. First, markup: (24 \times 1.35 = 32.40) dollars. Then apply the discount to the new price: (32.40 \times 0.80 = 25.92) dollars. Thus, $25.92 (A) is correct. Choice D ($32.40) stops after the markup, ignoring the discount. Choice B ($28.80) incorrectly averages or subtracts percentages additively (35% − 20% = 15%; (24 \times 1.15 = 27.60), which doesn’t match any option and reflects flawed reasoning). Choice C ($30.00) suggests rounding or applying the 20% discount to the original cost rather than the marked-up price ((24 \times 0.80 = 19.20); then adding markup—order matters). TEAS Math emphasizes order of operations for successive percent changes: each step scales the current value. A quick check: a 35% markup raises price; a 20% discount pulls it down but not back to the original because (0.80 \times 1.35 = 1.08); net effect is an 8% increase overall. Indeed, (24 \times 1.08 = 25.92), confirming the calculation.