Question

Zoe paid $18.60 in sales tax and tips for her dinner. The sales tax rate is 11%, and she tipped 20%. (The sales tax does not apply to the tip, and the tip is based on the price of the dinner before sales tax.) What was the price of Zoe's dinner, before sales tax and tip?

Answer 1

Zoe paid $18.60 in sales tax and tips for her dinner

Sales tax  + tips for dinner = 18.60

The sales tax rate is 11%, and she tipped 20%. Given that the sales tax does not apply to the tip, and the tip is based on the price of the dinner before sales tax.

Let x be the original price

Sales tax = 11% * original price = 0.11 * x= 0.11x

Tips for dinner = 20% * original price = 0.20 * x = 0.2x

We know Sales tax  + tips for dinner = 18.60

0.11x + 0.2x = 18.60

0.31x = 18.60

Divide by 0.31 on both sides

x = 60

$60 was the price of Zoe's dinner, before sales tax and tip.