If the sales tax on a $350 computer is $22.75. How do you find the sales tax rate?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-07T14:04:29

The sales tax rate is 6.5%

We can restate this question as:

What percent of $350 is $22.75.

Let's call the answer we are looking for #s# for sales tax percent.

"Percent" or "%" means "out of 100" or "per 100", Therefore s% can be written as #s/100#.

When dealing with percents the word "of" means "times" or "to multiply".

Putting this altogether we can write this equation and solve for #s# while keeping the equation balanced:

#s/100 xx $350 = $22.75#

#100/($350) xx s/100 xx $350 = 100/($350) xx $22.75#

#cancel(100)/(cancel($350)) xx s/cancel(100) xx cancel($350) = 100/(cancel($)350) xx cancel($)22.75#

#s = 100/350 xx 22.75#

#s = 2275/350#

#s = 6.5#