Question:
A shopper bought a watermelon, a pack of napkins, and some paper plates. In his state, there is no tax on food. The tax rate on non-food items is 5%. The total for the three items he bought was $8.25 before tax, and he paid $0.19 in tax. How much did the watermelon cost?
Answer:
Cost of watermelon is $ 4.45
Solution:
From given,
Total amount for three items before tax = $ 8.25
Tax amount = $ 0.19
Tax on non food = 5 %
Here, non food means napkin and paper plates
Let "x" be the cost spent for napkin and paper plates
Then,
5 % = 0.19
100 % = x
This forms a proportion
[tex]5 \times x = 0.19 \times 100\\\\5x = 19\\\\x = 3.8[/tex]
Thus cost spent for napkin and paper plates is $ 3.8
Therefore,
Watermelon cost = total amount before tax - cost spent for napkin and paper plates
Watermelon cost = 8.25 - 3.8 = 4.45
Thus cost of watermelon is $ 4.45
