Final answer:
Tara's net pay is calculated by first determining her gross pay, which is her hourly wage multiplied by her weekly hours. After that, we apply 82% to this amount, which signifies the percentage of her gross pay she retains post-deductions. Her calculated net pay is approximately $261.10, which makes option b the closest answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate Tara's net pay after deductions, we first need to find her gross pay by multiplying her hourly wage by the number of hours she works each week.
Gross pay = hourly wage × hours worked
Gross pay = $14.50 × 22 = $319
Next, we determine the net pay by taking 82% of the gross pay, as that is the amount left after deductions.
Net pay = gross pay × 82%
Net pay = $319 × 0.82 = $261.58
The answer that most closely matches this calculation is b) $261.10.