The sales tax on a $240 surfboard was $12. what was the percent of the sales tax?

Analysis: Stores often sell goods for a discounted price. Typically, a store will discount an item by a percent of the original price. In this problem, an item that originally costs $15 is being discounted by 10%. So "10% off" refers to the rate of discount. To solve this problem, we need a procedure.

Procedure:

1. The rate is usually given as a percent.
2. To find the discount, multiply the rate by the original price.
3. To find the sale price, subtract the discount from original price.

Now that we have a procedure, we can solve the problem above.

Solution: The rate is 10%.

The discount is: 0.10 x $15.00 = $1.50

The sale price is calculated as follows:

Answer: The discount is $1.50 and the sale price is $13.50.

Let's take a look at some more examples of calculating discount and sale price.

Analysis: The phrase, "Save 25%," refers to the rate.

The original price of the dress is $40.

Solution: The rate is 25%.

The discount is: 0.25 x $40.00 = $10.00

The sale price is calculated as follows:

Answer: The discount is $10.00 and the sale price is $30.00.

Analysis: The phrase, "Get a 20% discount," refers to the rate.

Solution: The rate is 20%.

The discount is: 0.20 x $12.00 = $2.40

The sale price is calculated as follows:

Answer: The discount is $2.40 and the sale price is $9.60.

Analysis: The phrase, "50% off," refers to the rate.

Solution: The rate is 50%.

The discount is: 0.50 x $5.00 = $2.50

The sale price is calculated as follows:

Answer: The discount is $2.50 and the sale price is $2.50.

In Example 3, note that the discount and the sale price are the same amount! Do you know what fraction is equal to 50%? Could you have done this problem using mental math? The phrase, "50% off," is the same as, "1/2 off". So using mental math, you would get that one-half of $5.00 is $2.50. Let's look at another example that uses a fraction.

Analysis: The phrase, "

Solution: The rate is given as the fraction 

The discount is: 

The sale price is calculated as follows:

Answer: The discount is $3.00 and the sale price is $6.00.

Once again, you could calculate the discount and sale price using mental math. Let's look at another way of calculating the sale price of an item. Below is a modified version of the problem from the top of this page.

Solution: The rate is 10%. Thus, the customer is paying 90% for the DVD.

The sale price is: 0.90 x $15.00 = $13.50

Answer: The sale price is $13.50.

Note that we calculated the sale price in the above problem, but we did not calculate the discount.

Summary: Stores often sell goods for a discounted price. Typically, a store will discount an item by a percent of the original price. The rate of discount is usually given as a percent, but may also be given as a fraction. The phrases used for discounted items include, "

Procedure:

1. To calculate the discount, multiply the rate by the original price.
2. To calculate the sale price, subtract the discount from original price.

Exercises

Directions: Solve each problem below by entering a dollar amount with cents. For each exercise below, click once in the ANSWER BOX, type in your answer and then click ENTER. After you click ENTER, a message will appear in the RESULTS BOX to indicate whether your answer is correct or incorrect. To start over, click CLEAR.

4.	A $30 shirt is marked, "Get   off." What is the sale price of the shirt?

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Correct answer:

Explanation:

1.      Convert tax percentage into a decimal by moving the decimal point two spaces to the left.
2.      Multiple the pre-tax value by the newly calculated decimal value in order to find the cost of the sales tax.
3.      Add the sales tax value to the pre-tax value to calculate the total cost.

In order to calculate the sales tax of an item, we need to first multiply the pre-tax cost of the item by the sales tax percentage after it has been converted into a decimal. Once the sales tax has been calculated it needs to be added to the pre-tax value in order to find the total cost of the item. Let's start by working with an example. If a magazine costs $2.35 and has a 6% sales tax, then what is the total cost of the item. First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Calculating the sales tax percentage of a total:

If we are given the total cost of an item or group of items and the pre-tax cost of the good(s), then we can calculate the sales tax percentage of the total cost. First, we need to subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the purchase. Next, we need to create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost off the items. Last, we need to create a proportion where the pre-tax cost is related to 100% and solve for the percentage of the sales tax. Let's start by working through an example. If a person pays $245.64 for groceries that cost $220.00 pre tax, then what is the sales tax percentage for the items.

First, subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the items to find the sales tax cost.

Next, create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost of the items.

Last, create a proportion where the pre-tax value is proportional to 100% and solve for the percentage of sales tax.

Cross multiply and solve.

Isolate the sales tax percentage to the left side of the equation by dividing each side by the pre-tax value.

Round to two decimal places since our answer is in dollars and cents.

Last, we can check this answer by calculating the sales tax percentage of the total as seen previously.

First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Our answers check out; therefore they are correct. Now, let's use this information to solve the given problem.

Solution: 

The easiest way to solve this problem is by realizing that you can apply an 8% tax to an amount by multiplying that amount by 108% or 1.08.  You could thus say to yourself, "$59.40 is 108% of what original amount?"  This can be rewritten as the following equation:

Dividing both sides by 1.08, you get 

Now, be careful!  The question asks NOT for the original price but for the tax amount, or 

Page 2

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1.      Convert tax percentage into a decimal by moving the decimal point two spaces to the left.
2.      Multiple the pre-tax value by the newly calculated decimal value in order to find the cost of the sales tax.
3.      Add the sales tax value to the pre-tax value to calculate the total cost.

In order to calculate the sales tax of an item, we need to first multiply the pre-tax cost of the item by the sales tax percentage after it has been converted into a decimal. Once the sales tax has been calculated it needs to be added to the pre-tax value in order to find the total cost of the item. Let's start by working with an example. If a magazine costs $2.35 and has a 6% sales tax, then what is the total cost of the item. First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Calculating the sales tax percentage of a total:

If we are given the total cost of an item or group of items and the pre-tax cost of the good(s), then we can calculate the sales tax percentage of the total cost. First, we need to subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the purchase. Next, we need to create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost off the items. Last, we need to create a proportion where the pre-tax cost is related to 100% and solve for the percentage of the sales tax. Let's start by working through an example. If a person pays $245.64 for groceries that cost $220.00 pre tax, then what is the sales tax percentage for the items.

First, subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the items to find the sales tax cost.

Next, create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost of the items.

Last, create a proportion where the pre-tax value is proportional to 100% and solve for the percentage of sales tax.

Cross multiply and solve.

Isolate the sales tax percentage to the left side of the equation by dividing each side by the pre-tax value.

Round to two decimal places since our answer is in dollars and cents.

Last, we can check this answer by calculating the sales tax percentage of the total as seen previously.

First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Our answers check out; therefore they are correct. Now, let's use this information to solve the given problem.

Solution: 

Brendan recently moved from Wisconsin to Florida, one of the biggest adjustments is the higher sales tax. If the sales tax in Florida is 7.5% and he buys a luggage rack for his bicycle for $76.45(before tax), how much does he pay in sales tax?

Finding the amount of sales tax is actually quite straightforward when we have a tax rate or percent.

In this case, we have a sales tax of

So Brendan pays

Page 3

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1.      Convert tax percentage into a decimal by moving the decimal point two spaces to the left.
2.      Multiple the pre-tax value by the newly calculated decimal value in order to find the cost of the sales tax.
3.      Add the sales tax value to the pre-tax value to calculate the total cost.

In order to calculate the sales tax of an item, we need to first multiply the pre-tax cost of the item by the sales tax percentage after it has been converted into a decimal. Once the sales tax has been calculated it needs to be added to the pre-tax value in order to find the total cost of the item. Let's start by working with an example. If a magazine costs $2.35 and has a 6% sales tax, then what is the total cost of the item. First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Calculating the sales tax percentage of a total:

If we are given the total cost of an item or group of items and the pre-tax cost of the good(s), then we can calculate the sales tax percentage of the total cost. First, we need to subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the purchase. Next, we need to create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost off the items. Last, we need to create a proportion where the pre-tax cost is related to 100% and solve for the percentage of the sales tax. Let's start by working through an example. If a person pays $245.64 for groceries that cost $220.00 pre tax, then what is the sales tax percentage for the items.

First, subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the items to find the sales tax cost.

Next, create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost of the items.

Last, create a proportion where the pre-tax value is proportional to 100% and solve for the percentage of sales tax.

Cross multiply and solve.

Isolate the sales tax percentage to the left side of the equation by dividing each side by the pre-tax value.

Round to two decimal places since our answer is in dollars and cents.

Last, we can check this answer by calculating the sales tax percentage of the total as seen previously.

First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Our answers check out; therefore they are correct. Now, let's use this information to solve the given problem.

Solution: 

When finding the total sales tax, we find what 7% of $50 is.  

To do this, we must first change 7% into a decimal. Move the decimal two places to the left or in other words, divide the percentage by one hundred.  

We know

Now, we multiply the two values together.  

We get

Therefore, the total amount of sales tax added to our total is $3.50.

Page 4

Correct answer:

The Tasty Solda costs $2.44 less

Explanation:

1.      Convert tax percentage into a decimal by moving the decimal point two spaces to the left.
2.      Multiple the pre-tax value by the newly calculated decimal value in order to find the cost of the sales tax.
3.      Add the sales tax value to the pre-tax value to calculate the total cost.

In order to calculate the sales tax of an item, we need to first multiply the pre-tax cost of the item by the sales tax percentage after it has been converted into a decimal. Once the sales tax has been calculated it needs to be added to the pre-tax value in order to find the total cost of the item. Let's start by working with an example. If a magazine costs $2.35 and has a 6% sales tax, then what is the total cost of the item. First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Calculating the sales tax percentage of a total:

If we are given the total cost of an item or group of items and the pre-tax cost of the good(s), then we can calculate the sales tax percentage of the total cost. First, we need to subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the purchase. Next, we need to create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost off the items. Last, we need to create a proportion where the pre-tax cost is related to 100% and solve for the percentage of the sales tax. Let's start by working through an example. If a person pays $245.64 for groceries that cost $220.00 pre tax, then what is the sales tax percentage for the items.

First, subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the items to find the sales tax cost.

Next, create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost of the items.

Last, create a proportion where the pre-tax value is proportional to 100% and solve for the percentage of sales tax.

Cross multiply and solve.

Isolate the sales tax percentage to the left side of the equation by dividing each side by the pre-tax value.

Round to two decimal places since our answer is in dollars and cents.

Last, we can check this answer by calculating the sales tax percentage of the total as seen previously.

First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Our answers check out; therefore they are correct. Now, let's use this information to solve the given problem.

Solution: 

12 bottles of Delicious Soda will cost

The sales tax is 7% of this, or

After tax, the cost is

12 bottles of Tasty Soda will be purchased at the three-for-$4.50 rate, so they will cost

The sales tax is 7% of this, or

After tax, the cost is

 This makes the Tasty Soda less expensive by

Page 5

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1.      Convert tax percentage into a decimal by moving the decimal point two spaces to the left.
2.      Multiple the pre-tax value by the newly calculated decimal value in order to find the cost of the sales tax.
3.      Add the sales tax value to the pre-tax value to calculate the total cost.

In order to calculate the sales tax of an item, we need to first multiply the pre-tax cost of the item by the sales tax percentage after it has been converted into a decimal. Once the sales tax has been calculated it needs to be added to the pre-tax value in order to find the total cost of the item. Let's start by working with an example. If a magazine costs $2.35 and has a 6% sales tax, then what is the total cost of the item. First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Calculating the sales tax percentage of a total:

If we are given the total cost of an item or group of items and the pre-tax cost of the good(s), then we can calculate the sales tax percentage of the total cost. First, we need to subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the purchase. Next, we need to create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost off the items. Last, we need to create a proportion where the pre-tax cost is related to 100% and solve for the percentage of the sales tax. Let's start by working through an example. If a person pays $245.64 for groceries that cost $220.00 pre tax, then what is the sales tax percentage for the items.

First, subtract the pre-tax value from the total cost of the items to find the sales tax cost.

Next, create a ratio of the sales tax to the pre-tax cost of the items.

Last, create a proportion where the pre-tax value is proportional to 100% and solve for the percentage of sales tax.

Cross multiply and solve.

Isolate the sales tax percentage to the left side of the equation by dividing each side by the pre-tax value.

Round to two decimal places since our answer is in dollars and cents.

Last, we can check this answer by calculating the sales tax percentage of the total as seen previously.

First, we need to convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal by moving the point two spaces to the left.

Now, we need to multiply the pre-tax cost of this item by this value in order to calculate the sales tax cost.

Round to two decimal places since our total is in dollars and cents.

Last, add this value to the pre-tax value of the item to find the total cost.

Our answers check out; therefore they are correct. Now, let's use this information to solve the given problem.

Solution: 

Multiply the sales percentage with the cost of the bike before sales tax.  This will determine the amount of tax the buyer must pay.

A percent is a number out of 100 parts. 

Multiply the price with the percent.

The tax on the bike is: