SOLUTION: There is a sales tax of $6 on an item that costs $64 before tax. The sales tax on a second item is $8.25. How much does the second item cost before tax?

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: There is a sales tax of $6 on an item that costs $64 before tax. The sales tax on a second item is $8.25. How much does the second item cost before tax?      Log On


   

Question 1205134: There is a sales tax of $6 on an item that costs $64 before tax. The sales tax on a second item is $8.25. How much does the second item cost before tax?
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
6/64 = .09375 * 100 = 9.375% = the sales tax percentage.
the sales tax on the second item is $8.25.
since the sales tax is 9.375%, that sales tax represents 9.375% of the pre-tax sale price.
you get 8.25 = .09375 * x, where x represents the pre-tax sale price.
solve for x to get x = 8.25 / .09375 = 88.
the second item costs 88 dollars before tax.
to confirm, take 8.25 and divide it by 88 to get 8.25/88 = .09375 * 100 = 9.375%.
the sales tax percentage is the same, as it should be, if the items are all taxed at the same rate.