The cost of 2 new college textbooks including tax is $283.32. If the tax rate is 6.9%, then what is the price of the textbooks before tax?

Answer 1

x is price before tax for the two books.

x + 0.069x = 283.32 (0.069 is the tax on x $'s) Now factor out the x. x(1 + 0.069)

1.069 x = 283.32

Now you can calc x. (Those books are really expensive!)