The cost for 3 dinners plus a 15% tip is $27.60. Write an equation representing the situation if p is the price of the dinner in dollars. You may asssume there is no tax.

4 answers

15% of the total cost of $27.60 is $4.14
3 dinners plus $4.14 tip is $27.60
The equation would be:
3p + 4.14 = 27.60
I thing the 27.60 is the total, that is, it includes the tip.

so , cost of each dinner --- x
3p(1.14) = 27.60
p = 27.60/(3(1.14))

I get p = $8.07

check:
3 dinners cost 3(8.07) = 24.21
tip = .14(24.21) = 3.39
total cost = 24.21 + 3.39 = 27.60

Patte's cost of p = 7.82
check:
3 dinners cost 23.46
tip = .14(23.46) = 3.28
total cost = 23.46+3.28 = 26.74 ≠ 27.60
Using 15% of 27.60 is wrong, because the 27.60 already includes the tip.

Instead, you should use

3p * 1.15 = 27.60
Correct Answer is:

3p*1.15=27.60