Answer:
6.38%
Explanation:
To answer questions like these it helps to work backwards. We know that sales tax is an added percentage of the cost of a product onto total.
So we get this sort of image:
Total = Original Cost x (1 + %tax)
Now we can start putting the numbers from the question into this equation.
So we know the total:
27.50 = Original Cost x (1+%tax)
We know the original cost. It must be the total amount minus the amount of sales tax put on it. (27.50 - 1.65 = 25.85)
27.50 = 25.85 x (1+%tax)
Now we can start solving for "%tax".
(27.50/25.85) = 1 + %tax
1.0638 = 1 +%tax
1.0638 - 1 = %tax
0.0638 = %tax
6.38% = tax
The sales tax is 6.38%.