SOLUTION: The cost of a shirt plus a sales tax of $0.87 equals $16.86. Find the cost of the shirt.

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Question 169468: The cost of a shirt plus a sales tax of $0.87 equals $16.86. Find the cost of the shirt.
Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Cost%2BSalesTax=TotalCost, working eqn
given ---->system%28Cost=Cost%2CTax=0.87%2CTotalCost=16.86%29
Subst. Working eqn,
Cost%2B0.87=16.86
Cost=16.86-0.87
highlight%28Cost=15.99%29, Answer
Check the percentage of Tax:
Let x=percent
Cost%2B%28x%29Cost=TotalCost
15.99%2B%28x%2915.99=16.86
15.99%281%2Bx%29=16.86 ---> cross%2815.99%29%281%2Bx%29%2Fcross%2815.99%29=16.86%2F15.99
%281%2Bx%29=1.0544
x=1.0544-1=0.0544%2A100---------> x=5.44% (Tax)
.
Thank you,
Jojo