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?
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.
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.
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.