Final answer:
The decimal factor equivalent to adding a 4% tax to the base cost of an item is 1.04.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the decimal factor that is equivalent to adding a 4% tax to the base cost of an item, we can use the formula:
Decimal Factor = 1 + (Tax Rate in decimal form)
For a 4% tax, the decimal form is 0.04. Plugging this value into the formula, we get:
Decimal Factor = 1 + 0.04 = 1.04
Therefore, the correct answer is c) 1.04.