Final answer:
The percent decrease in taxes is calculated as (($173 / $985) × 100), which gives a decrease of 17.56%. None of the given options match this calculated decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percent decrease in taxes from last year to this year can be calculated using the formula:
((original value - new value) / original value) × 100.
Applying this to the given values:
- Original value (last year's taxes): $985
- New value (this year's taxes): $812
The decrease in taxes is $985 - $812 = $173. Now, use the formula to find the percent decrease:
(($173 / $985) × 100) = 17.56%
Therefore, the correct answer is none of the given options (a), (b), (c), or (d), as they do not match the calculated percent decrease of 17.56%.