Question

A shopper pays $57.20 for a $55 picnic table after sales tax is added. What is the sales tax percentage?

Write your answer using a percent sign (%).

Answer 1

To find the sales tax percentage, we first need to determine the amount of sales tax paid.

The amount paid by the shopper is $57.20, and the original price of the picnic table is $55.

First, we calculate the sales tax amount:

\[
\text{Sales Tax} = \text{Total Amount Paid} - \text{Original Price}
\]
\[
\text{Sales Tax} = 57.20 - 55 = 2.20
\]

Next, we calculate the sales tax percentage by dividing the sales tax amount by the original price and then multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage:

\[
\text{Sales Tax Percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{Sales Tax}}{\text{Original Price}} \right) \times 100
\]
\[
\text{Sales Tax Percentage} = \left( \frac{2.20}{55} \right) \times 100
\]

Now we perform the calculation:

\[
\text{Sales Tax Percentage} = \left( 0.04 \right) \times 100 = 4\%
\]

Thus, the sales tax percentage is **4%**.