Answer :

It is the formula for total discount .
in the case of successive discount -
the 1st  discount is a% and 2nd is b%
then,
total discount =  (a + b - ab / 100 ) %
a successive discount is a combination of many discounts. 
the formula for this is : let 1st discount be x and second discount be y then,
total discount = ( x+y- xy / 100) %