Question

The listed price of the pair of pants was $38, but the price with tax came to $39.14. Find the percent sales tax.

Answer 1

well, the difference is 39.14 - 38 = 1.14, so that's the tax.

if we take 38 to be the 100%, just the listed price alone, what is 1.14 off of it in percentage?

`\begin{array}{ccll} amount&\%\\ \cline{1-2} 38 & 100\\ 1.14& x \end{array} \implies \cfrac{38}{1.14}~~=~~\cfrac{100}{x} \implies 38x=114\implies x=\cfrac{114}{38}\implies x=3`