Find the sales tax rate in your area. Using this tax rate, write a linear equation representing the total with tax for a purchase of x dollars. Use this equation to determine what the pre-tax cost of the item is if the total cost with tax is $10.

Find the TOTAL COST for a purchase of $185 if the sales tax rate is 5.5%

(Original price) (1 + tax rate) = total cost

$2.75

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To find the sales tax rate in your area, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify your location: Determine the country, state, or province where you are located as sales tax rates vary from place to place.

2. Research: Look for the sales tax rate specific to your location. This information can usually be found on government websites or in tax literature for your area. You can search online using phrases like "sales tax rate [your location]" to find relevant information.

Alternatively, you can also contact your local tax office or refer to receipts from previous purchases that break down the tax amount to determine the tax rate.

Once you have the sales tax rate, you can proceed to calculate the pre-tax cost of an item if the total cost with tax is $10.

Let's assume the tax rate in your area is 8%. Here's how you can write a linear equation representing the total cost with tax for a purchase of x dollars:

1. The tax amount can be calculated by multiplying the purchase amount (x) by the tax rate (expressed as a decimal). In this case, it would be 0.08x.
2. The total cost with tax can be calculated by adding the purchase amount (x) and the tax amount (0.08x). In this case, it would be x + 0.08x.

So the equation representing the total cost with tax is:

Total cost with tax = x + 0.08x = 1.08x

To determine the pre-tax cost of the item if the total cost with tax is $10, we can set up and solve the equation:

1.08x = 10

Dividing both sides of the equation by 1.08 gives:

x = 10 / 1.08

Evaluating the right side of the equation gives approximately:

x ≈ 9.26

Therefore, the pre-tax cost of the item is approximately $9.26.