Question

John paid $32.16 for groceries. This included 7% sales tax. What was the cost of groceries before the sales tax? A. $2.25 B. $30.06 C. $32.31 D. $459.43

Answer 1

if 32.16 includes the sales tax....then the price before the sales tax will be less then 32.16

that only leaves 2 choices.....
so lets check them...
7% sales tax on 2.25 = 0.07(2.25) = 0.16....so if u spent 2.25 on groceries and added the sales tax of 16 cents....then u would have spent 2.41...thats a long way from 32.16

if u spent 30.06...with 7% sales tax....u would spend 30.06 + 0.07(30.06) = 32.16

so the cost of the groceries before the sales tax is 30.06 <==

Answer 2

The cost before sales tax was $30.06 (option B)

Explanation:

Let the cost of groceries before sales tax be = x

The sales tax is 7% or 0.07

Total amount paid by John = $32.16

The condition can be written as:

`x+0.07x=32.16`

`1.07x=32.16`

`x=30.056` ≈ $30.06

Hence, the cost before sales tax was $30.06.

We can check this as follows.

`0.07*30.06=2.10`

`30.06+2.10=32.16`

Therefore, option B is correct.