Markdown
JamWise Education TeamยทUpdated March 2026
Definition
The amount a price is reduced during a sale or discount.
Learning context
In 7th grade math, students encounter "markdown" as part of building numerical and spatial reasoning skills. At the middle school level, learners develop the ability to connect abstract mathematical concepts to concrete, everyday situations. Understanding this term helps students communicate their mathematical thinking with precision and builds a foundation for more advanced problem-solving in later grades.
Why music helps students learn vocabulary
Research consistently shows that pairing vocabulary instruction with music improves both recall and long-term retention. When students hear a term like "markdown" embedded in a memorable melody, their brains form stronger associative connections between the word, its meaning, and the emotional context of the song.
JamWise leverages this science by generating curriculum-aligned songs for every K-8 topic. Rather than drilling definitions from a word list, students encounter terms naturally within lyrics, absorbing meaning through context and repetition. Teachers report that students who learn vocabulary through JamWise jams retain terms significantly longer than those using traditional flashcard methods.
Related vocabulary
Discount
A reduction in the original price of an item, usually expressed as a percent. A 20% discount on a $50 item saves you $10.
Tax
An additional amount added to the price of goods or services, calculated as a percent of the cost. Sales tax is a common example.
Unit price
The cost of one single item, found by dividing the total cost by the number of items.
Markup
The amount a seller adds to the cost of an item to set the selling price. If a store buys a shirt for $15 and sells it for $25, the markup is $10.
Percentage decrease
The amount of decrease expressed as a percent of the original value. If a price goes from $50 to $40, the percentage decrease is 20%.
Percentage increase
The amount of increase expressed as a percent of the original value. If a price goes from $20 to $25, the percentage increase is 25%.
Commission
Money earned as a percentage of sales. If a salesperson earns 5% commission on a $2,000 sale, they earn $100.
Percent decrease
The percentage by which a quantity shrinks compared to the original amount.