Question

In Seattle, the tax on a property assessed at $500,000 is $9,000. If tax rates are proportional in this city, how much would the tax be on a property assessed at $1,000,000?

Answer 1

$18,000

Step-by-step explanation:

Let us represent the tax by y and the property value by x. If the tax is proportional to the property value, then the relationship between y and x is the following.

`y=kx`

where k is the constant of propotionality.

Now, to paraphrase, we are told that when y = $9,000, then x = $500,000. This means

`9000=k(500,000)`

and we need to solve for k.

Dividing both sides by 9000 gives

`k=(9,000)/(500,000)`

which simplifies to give

`\boxed{k=(9)/(500).}`

With the value of k in hand, our formula now becomes

`y=(9)/(500)x`

We can now find the tax when x = 1,000,000.

Putting in x = 1,000,000 into the above formula gives

`y=(9)/(500)(1,000,000)`

which simplifies to give

`\boxed{y=18,000.}`

This means, the tax on a property assessed at $1,000,000 is $18,000.