Striver wrote:Connie paid a sales tax of 8 percent on her purchase. If the sales tax had been only 5 percent, she would have paid $12 less in sales tax on her purchase. What was the total amount that Connie paid for her purchase including sales tax?
A) $368
B) $380
C) $400
D) $420
E) $432
Let us assume that purchase price = $P
8% of P = 0.08P = Tax on purchase price
If the sales tax had been only 5 percent, she would have paid $12 less in sales tax on her purchase.
So, 0.05P = 0.08P - 12
12 = 0.03P
P = 12/0.03
P = 400
So, we get the purchase price as $400.
Now, 8% of $400 = 0.08 * 400 = $32
Therefore, the total amount that Connie paid for her purchase including sales tax = $400 + $32 = [spoiler]$432[/spoiler]
The correct answer is
E.
