Find the total cost to the nearest cent. $18 breakfast; 7% tax
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
✅ Total Cost (Including 7% Tax):
$19.26
🧮 Step-by-Step Calculation:
- Cost of breakfast (before tax):
$18.00 - Sales Tax Rate:
7% (which is 0.07 in decimal form) - Calculate the tax: 18.00×0.07=1.2618.00 \times 0.07 = 1.2618.00×0.07=1.26
- Add the tax to the original price: 18.00+1.26=19.2618.00 + 1.26 = 19.2618.00+1.26=19.26
✍️ Explanation):
When you’re buying something like a meal at a restaurant, the price you see on the menu typically doesn’t include sales tax. In this case, the breakfast costs $18.00, but you must also pay sales tax, which in this example is 7%. To find out the total amount you will be charged, you must calculate how much 7% of $18 is, and then add it to the original price.
To calculate 7% of $18, you convert the percentage into a decimal. This means dividing 7 by 100, which gives 0.07. Then you multiply this by the original price:18.00×0.07=1.2618.00 \times 0.07 = 1.2618.00×0.07=1.26
So, the tax comes out to $1.26. This amount is then added to the base price of the breakfast to get the total cost:18.00+1.26=19.2618.00 + 1.26 = 19.2618.00+1.26=19.26
So, the total amount the customer pays is $19.26, rounded to the nearest cent. This is the final amount that would appear on your receipt or credit card charge.
Understanding how to calculate sales tax is essential for real-world money management. Whether you’re budgeting for a meal, shopping, or traveling, knowing how tax is added to your purchase helps you avoid surprises. Always remember to add the percentage as a decimal, multiply it by the cost, and then add the result to the original amount to get the final total.
Final Answer:
$19.26 ✅
