Final answer:
The total cost of Laila's shirt is calculated by adding the sales tax, which is 3% of $24 ($0.72), to the original price, resulting in a final cost of $24.72.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total cost of Laila's new shirt, which is priced at $24 with a sales tax of 3%, can be calculated by first determining the amount of sales tax and then adding it to the original price of the shirt. The sales tax is found by converting the percentage to a decimal and then multiplying it by the cost of the shirt. In this case, the calculation would be:
Amount of sales tax = $24 × 0.03
Amount of sales tax = $0.72
Subsequently, we add this tax to the original price to find the total cost:
Total cost = Original price + Sales tax
Total cost = $24 + $0.72
Total cost = $24.72
Thus, the total cost of Laila's new shirt, including sales tax, is $24.72.