Question

Mary bought 3 CDs that were each the same price. Including sales tax, she paid a total of $52.50. Of that total, $3.60 was tax. What was the price of each CD before tax?

Answer 1

To find the price of each CD before tax, subtract the total sales tax from the total paid and then divide by the number of CDs. Mary's CDs cost $16.30 each before tax.

Step-by-step explanation:

Calculating the Price Before Tax

The question involves calculation of the price of an item before tax was added, which is a common mathematical problem involving basic arithmetic operations and an understanding of percentages and sales tax calculation. Since Mary bought 3 CDs at the same price and paid a total of $52.50, including a $3.60 tax, we can determine the price before tax as follows:

1. Subtract the total sales tax from the total paid to find the total cost before tax: $52.50 - $3.60 = $48.90.
2. Divide the total cost before tax by the number of CDs to find the price per CD before tax: $48.90 / 3 = $16.30 per CD.

Therefore, the price of each CD before tax was $16.30.