Final answer:
The sales tax for a $16,000 boat, with a sales tax rate of 6%, is calculated by multiplying the boat's price by the decimal form of the tax rate, resulting in a sales tax of $960.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sales tax that Mr. Smith must pay for purchasing a boat can be calculated by converting the tax rate to a decimal and then multiplying it by the cost of the boat. In this case, the state sales tax rate is 6%, which as a decimal is 0.06. Therefore, to calculate the sales tax on a $16,000 boat, you would perform the following calculation:
Amount of sales tax = price × rate of sales tax
$16,000 × 0.06 = $960
This $960 is the correct amount he must pay in taxes, which directly answers the question. This process of calculating sales tax is widely applicable for understanding consumer costs and governmental revenue.