SOLUTION: Dear tutors,please explain how to approach this problem: Connie paid a sales tax of 8 percent on her purchase. If the sales tax had been only 5 percent, she would have paid $12 l

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Dear tutors,please explain how to approach this problem: Connie paid a sales tax of 8 percent on her purchase. If the sales tax had been only 5 percent, she would have paid $12 l      Log On


   

Question 33235: Dear tutors,please explain how to approach this problem:
Connie paid a sales tax of 8 percent on her purchase. If the sales tax had been only 5 percent, she would have paid $12 less in sales tax on her purchase. What was the total amount that connie paid for her purchase including sales tax?

Thanks for your help
Tolly
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let price of the item before adding sales tax be "x".
Connie paid 1.08x when she paid 8% sales tax.
Whe would have paid 1.05x if she paid 5% sales tax.
EQUATION:
1.08x-1.05x=12
0.03x=12
x=$400
The amount she paid was 1.08x=1.08($400)=$432
Cheers,
Stan H.