Let the total number of apples the vendor initially had be 100 (for simplicity).
On the first day:The vendor sells 50% of the apples:
Apples sold on day 1 = 50% of 100 = 50
The remaining apples after selling 50% are:
Remaining apples = 100 − 50 = 50
He then throws away 20% of the remaining apples:
Apples thrown away on day 1 = 20% of 50 = 10
The remaining apples after throwing away 20% are:
Remaining apples after day 1 = 50 − 10 = 40
On the second day:The vendor sells 60% of the remaining apples:
Apples sold on day 2 = 60% of 40 = 24
The remaining apples after selling 60% are:
Remaining apples after selling on day 2 = 40 − 24 = 16
He throws away the rest, which is 16 apples.
Total apples thrown away:Apples thrown away on day 1 = 10
Apples thrown away on day 2 = 16
Total apples thrown away = 10 + 16 = 26
Percentage of apples thrown away:
Thus, the vendor throws away
26% of his apples.