Question

A state sales tax is 5.5%.How much sales tax will you pay on a purchase of $48?

Answer 1

Ok, I will help. First, you have to answer this question, does a sale tax add or subtract from the total of a purchase?

Answer 2

Subtract

Answer 3

Actually, no. A sales tax adds on to your purchase. However, a sale subtracts. Whenever you hear the word tax, you know that you have to add to the purchase. Ok, now we will get started

Answer 4

If the sales tax is 5.5%, you have to multiply this by 48 to see how much the tax will be.

Answer 5

5.5%x 48 = 2.64

Answer 6

That will be your answer :). Now, there is one thing you have to keep in mind, if the question asks you what will be the total purchase with sales tax, then you have to add the 2.64, however since all it is asking for is the amount of sales tax, you know that it is just 2.64 :)

Answer 7

add 2.64 with what

Answer 8

the total of the purchase, however you do not need to do that in this case

Answer 9

First you convert the percentage to a decimal: \[
5.5\% = 0.055
\]

Answer 10

Now here is the question for you:
Is \($48\) the price before or after tax is added?

Answer 11

If it is the price before adding tax, then you simply multiply: \[
48 \times 0.055
\]

Answer 12

Otherwise you do: \[
(48 - x)(1.00+0.055) = 48
\]And solve for \(x\).