Final answer:
The original price of Zoe’s dinner before tax and tip was $169, calculated by dividing the sales tax paid ($18.60) by the sales tax rate (11%).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to calculate the original price of Zoe’s dinner before sales tax and tip were added. Zoe paid $18.60 in sales tax, which is 11% of the dinner’s cost. To find the meal’s pre-tax price, you divide the amount of sales tax by the tax rate:
Pre-tax price of dinner = Sales tax amount ÷ Sales tax rate
Pre-tax price of dinner = $18.60 ÷ 0.11
Pre-tax price of dinner = $169
Therefore, the price of Zoe’s dinner before sales tax and tip was $169.