You order two tacos and a salad. The salad costs $2.50. You pay 8% sales tax and leave a $3 tip .you pay a total of $13.80. How much does one taco cost?

Question

Please help i need this asap 

Answer 1

You order two tacos and a salad. The salad costs $2.50. You pay 8% sales tax and leave a $3 tip .you pay a total of $13.80. How much does one taco cost?

 

Step 1: Identify the unknown variable, x, where x = the cost of a single taco.

Step 2: Write an equation representing what you know from the given word problem.  Here's what you know:

 

The price of the two tacos plus the price of the salad plus the sales tax plus the tip must total $13.80.  Therefore,

 

Price of one taco = x; price of 2 tacos = 2x

Price of salad = $2.50

Sales tax = 8% of the combined price of two tacos and a salad, namely .08(2x + 2.50)

Tip = constant fee = $3.00

Total bill = $13.80

 

Therefore the equation becomes

2x + 2.50 + .08(2x + 2.50) + 3 = 13.80

 

Step 3:  Solve for x; isolate the variable

 

2x + 2.50 + .16x + .20 + 3 = 13.80 (using the distributive property to multiply 2x and 2.5 by .08).

2.16x + 2.70 + 3 = 13.80 (combining like terms)

2.16x + 5.70 = 13.80 (combining like terms)

2.16x + 5.70 = 13.80 - 5.70 (subtraction property of equality)

2.16x = 8.10

x = 8.10/2.16 = 3.75 (division property of equality)

 

Step 4: Interpret mathematical answer in context of original word problem.

 

The cost of a single taco is $3.75

 

Step 5: Verify that answer makes sense for problem.

 

2 Tacos would cost $7.50

1 Salad would cost $2.50

Food bill subtotal would be $10.00

Sales tax is 8% of $10 or 80 cents

Tip is $3

 

Confirm 7.5 + 2.5 + .8 + 3 = $13.80

 

:-) Dr. E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer 2

Let T = cost of a taco

Let S = cost of a salad

 

(2 tacos + 1 salad) + (8 % of 2 tacos and 1 salad) + 3 = 13.80

 

2T + S + .08(2T + S) + 3 = 13.80

2T + 2.5 + .08(2T + 2.5) + 3 = 13.80

2T + 2.5 + .16T + .20 + 3 = 13.80

2.16T + 5.7 = 13.80

2.16T = 8.10

T = 8.10/2.16 = $3.75

 

Check:  2T + S + .08(2T + S) + 3 = 13.80

            2(3.75) + 2.50 + .08(2(3.75)+2.5) + 3 = 13.80

            7.5 + 2.5 + .08(10) + 3 = 13.8

            13.80 = 13.80

Answer checks as correct