Real-Life Math © Scholastic Teaching Resources
2. (Unit Price x Quantity) + Sales Tax
6% Sales Tax Chart
Amount of Sale
Tax
$.00 – .10 none
.11 – .17 .01
.18 – .34 .02
.35 – .50 .03
.51 – .67 .04
.68 – .84 .05
.85 – 1.10 .06
1.11 – 1.17 .07
1.18 – 1.34 .08
1.35 – 1.50 .09
1.51 – 1.67 .10
1.68 – 1.84 .11
1.85 – 2.10 .12
2.11 – 2.17 .13
2.18 – 2.34 .14
2.35 – 2.50 .15
Have you ever been surprised that
the bill for a $10.00 item is $10.60?
This lesson will help you understand
sales tax and how it affects the
amount a customer pays.
On each
sales receipt, find the
total cost of the items described by
multiplying the unit by the price
quantity. Then add the amounts in
the total-cost column to find the
subtotal. Use the sales tax chart to
Amount of Sale
2.51 – 2.67
2.68 – 2.84
2.85 – 3.10
3.11 – 3.17
3.18 – 3.34
3.35 – 3.50
3.51 – 3.67
3.68 – 3.84
3.85 – 4.10
4.11 – 4.17
4.18 – 4.34
4.35 – 4.50
4.51 – 4.67
4.68 – 4.84
4.85 – 5.10
5.11 – 5.17
Tax
.16
.17
.18
.19
.20
.21
.22
.23
.24
.25
.26
.27
.28
.29
.30
.31
Amount of Sale
5.18 – 5.34
5.35 – 5.50
5.51 – 5.67
5.68 – 5.84
5.85 – 6.10
6.11 – 6.17
6.18 – 6.34
6.35 – 6.50
6.51 – 6.67
6.68 – 6.84
6.85 – 7.10
7.11 – 7.17
7.18 – 7.34
7.35 – 7.50
7.51 – 7.67
Tax
.32
.33
.34
.35
.36
.38
.39
.40
.41
.42
.42
.43
.44
.45
.46
Amount of Sale
7.68 – 7.84
7.85 – 8.10
8.11 – 8.17
8.18 – 8.34
8.35 – 8.50
8.51 – 8.67
8.68 – 8.84
8.85 – 9.10
9.11 – 9.17
9.18 – 9.34
9.35 – 9.50
9.51 – 9.67
9.68 – 9.84
9.85 –10.00
Tax
.47
.48
.49
.50
.51
.52
.53
.54
.55
.56
.57
.58
.59
.60
determine the tax on the subtotal. Add the subtotal and the tax to find the final amount due from the customer. We
did the first one for you.
sum of the amounts in total-cost column
Quantity or qty. is the number of items purchased
or bought.
Stationery
Item Description Unit Price
Pens
.79
Qty.
3
Total Cost
$2.37
Memo Pad
.39
5
1.95
Scotch Tape
.41
1
.41
Pencils
.15
4
.60
Subtotal
6% Sales Tax
Pay this amount
Unit price is the cost of one item.
Total cost is Unit Price x Quantity.
The answer in multiplication is called the product.
tax for $5.33
as shown
on sales
tax chart
$5.33
.32
$5.65
sum of subtotal and sales tax
Item Description
Unit Price Qty.
5.79
2
Color Prints
.36
12
Batteries
2.32
6
5x7 Enlargements
3.15
5
Subtotal
6% Sales Tax
Pay this amount
Due to space limitations, these answers do not appear in the answer key.
26
Subtotal is the sum of the amounts in the total-cost
column before the sales tax is added.
6% Sales tax means an addition of $.06 on each
dollar of purchase. (Many states and cities raise
money through sales taxes. The customer pays the
tax in the store.) To use the Sales Tax Chart, find the
subtotal ($5.33) within the two amounts ($5.18–$5.34)
shown in the amount-of-sale columns. The sales
tax (.32) is at the right of this column.
Total Cost
Alan’s
Camera Supply
Film
Quick Reference
On Your Own
Make a receipt of some things you bought
recently. What did you buy? How many? How
much did each one cost? How much tax
was included in the total amount you paid?
Remember: The tax in your state may be
different.