- Convert the \(5\%\) tax rate to the decimal \(0.05\).
- Multiply each item's price by \(0.05\) to calculate the tax.
- Round each result to the nearest hundredth as follows:
- Italian Salad: \(\$3.99 \times 0.05 = 0.1995 \to \boxed{\$0.20}\)
- Lasagna: \(\$6.50 \times 0.05 = 0.325 \to \boxed{\$0.33}\)
- Spaghetti: \(\$4.29 \times 0.05 = 0.2145 \to \boxed{\$0.21}\)
- Fettuccini Alfredo: \(\$7.17 \times 0.05 = 0.3585 \to \boxed{\$0.36}\)
Explanation
- Problem Analysis and Methodology
To determine the sales tax for each item, we use the given tax rate of \(5\%\). Converting this percentage to a decimal, we get \(5\% = \frac{5}{100} = 0.05\). The amount of tax for any item is calculated by multiplying its price by this tax rate: \(\text{Tax} = \text{Price} \times 0.05\). We will then round each result to the nearest hundredth to express the amount in currency format.
- Calculating Tax Amounts
We apply the tax calculation formula to each item in the table:
- For the Italian Salad priced at \(\$3.99\):
\(\text{Tax} = \$3.99 \times 0.05 = \$0.1995\).
Rounding \(\$0.1995\) to the nearest hundredth gives \(\$0.20\).
- For the Lasagna priced at \(\$6.50\):
\(\text{Tax} = \$6.50 \times 0.05 = \$0.325\).
Rounding \(\$0.325\) to the nearest hundredth gives \(\$0.33\).
- For the Spaghetti priced at \(\$4.29\):
\(\text{Tax} = \$4.29 \times 0.05 = \$0.2145\).
Rounding \(\$0.2145\) to the nearest hundredth gives \(\$0.21\).
- For the Fettuccini Alfredo priced at \(\$7.17\):
\(\text{Tax} = \$7.17 \times 0.05 = \$0.3585\).
Rounding \(\$0.3585\) to the nearest hundredth gives \(\$0.36\).
- Final Results
Summarizing our results, the sales tax amounts for the items are:
- Italian Salad: \(\boxed{\$0.20}\)
- Lasagna: \(\boxed{\$0.33}\)
- Spaghetti: \(\boxed{\$0.21}\)
- Fettuccini Alfredo: \(\boxed{\$0.36}\)
Examples
Understanding how to calculate sales tax is a fundamental skill for everyday life, especially when shopping. For example, when you see a price on a tag at a store, the final cost at the checkout includes tax. Knowing how to apply a percentage and round to the nearest cent helps you estimate the total amount you will need to pay and ensures that you can verify the accuracy of your receipt when purchasing goods like meals or clothing.