Question 341717
Please help me solve this word problem.

The state sales tax in New York is 0.0425 (or 4.25%). Your total bill at the department store included $2.21 in sales tax. One half of the merchandise puchased was nontaxable. What was the total bill?


Since the sales tax is 4.25%, which calculates to $2.21 in taxes, we can the say that 4.25% of a number = $2.21, or in mathematical language:


.0425(N) = 2.21, with the the number represented by N


{{{N = 2.21/.0425}}}, or N = $52


Since {{{1/2}}} of the merchandise purchased was non-taxable, then {{{1/2}}} of the merchandise purchased was taxable.


This means that $52 was taxable and $52 was non-taxable, which makes the total bill: ${{{highlight_green(106.21)}}}, calculated as non-taxable amount plus taxable amount, plus taxes, or, $52 + $52 + $2.21.