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Kendall's Vase - Tax


Alignments to Content Standards: 6.RP.A.3

Task

Kendall bought a vase that was priced at \$450. In addition, she had to pay 3% sales tax. How much did she pay for the vase?

Solutions

Solution: Percent table

Students just beginning to study percents might work from a percent table.

100% 10% 1% 2% 3%
\$450.00 \$45.00 \$4.50 \$9.00 \$13.50

Adding the tax to the price of the vase gives the total cost of the vase:

13.50 + 450 = 463.50

Kendall paid \$463.50 for the vase.

Solution: Reasoning from a benchmark percent

Another approach is to find one percent of the \$450, which is \$4.50. Then 3% would be 3 times that amount which is \$13.50.

Adding the tax to the price of the vase gives the total cost of the vase:

13.50 + 450 = 463.50

Kendall paid \$463.50 for the vase.

Solution: Finding 3 percent of a quantity is the same as finding three-hundredths of that quantity

If students understand that finding 3% is the same as finding $\frac{3}{100}$ of 450, then they can simply multiply to find the tax

$$\frac{3}{100} \times 450 = 13.5$$

Adding the tax to the original price will produce the total cost.

13.50 + 450 = 463.50

Kendall paid \$463.50 for the vase.