Ross purchases 3 cookbooks for $18.89 each, a set of measuring cups for $2.68, 4 kitchen utensils for $5.35 each, and a cooling rack for $9.60. Ross uses a promotional discount of $5 off on the purchase of 3 or more cookbooks. There are no taxes charged on his purchase, but shipping charges are based on the following table:
| Amount of Purchase | Standard Shipping | Express Shipping |
| :----------------- | :---------------- | :--------------- |
| up to $50 | $4.00 | $7.00 |
| $50 up to $100 | $5.25 | $9.50 |
| $100 up to $200 | $6.00 | $12.75 |
| $200 and over | $8.50 | $15.00 |
Ross selects standard shipping and is billed $94.35 for the total of the online purchase. Determine if Ross has been billed correctly for his purchase.
A. Ross has been billed correctly.
B. Ross has not been charged enough for his purchase.
C. Ross has been over charged by $3.75 for his purchase.
D. Ross has been over charged by $4.25 for his purchase.
Answer (2)
Calculate the cost of the cookbooks: 3 × $18.89 = $56.67 .
Apply the discount: $56.67 − $5 = $51.67 .
Calculate the subtotal: $51.67 + $2.68 + ( 4 × $5.35 ) + $9.60 = $85.35 .
Add the standard shipping cost: $85.35 + $5.25 = $90.60 . Ross was overcharged by $3.75 .
Explanation
Calculate the cost of the cookbooks First, we need to calculate the cost of the 3 cookbooks. The price of each cookbook is $18.89, so the total cost is 3 × 18.89 = $56.67 .
Apply the discount Next, we apply the promotional discount of $5 since Ross purchased 3 cookbooks. The discounted cost of the cookbooks is $56.67 − $5 = $51.67 .
Calculate the cost of the kitchen utensils Now, we calculate the cost of the 4 kitchen utensils. Each utensil costs $5.35, so the total cost is 4 × 5.35 = $21.40 .
Calculate the subtotal We need to find the subtotal of all the items before shipping costs. This includes the discounted cost of the cookbooks, the measuring cups, the kitchen utensils, and the cooling rack. So, the subtotal is $51.67 + $2.68 + $21.40 + $9.60 = $85.35 .
Determine the shipping cost Now we determine the shipping cost. Since the subtotal is $85.35, which falls in the range of $50 up to $100, the standard shipping cost is $5.25.
Calculate the total cost We calculate the total cost by adding the subtotal and the shipping cost: $85.35 + $5.25 = $90.60 .
Compare the calculated cost with the billed amount Finally, we compare the calculated total cost ($90.60) with the billed amount ($94.35). The difference is $94.35 − $90.60 = $3.75 . Since the billed amount is higher than the calculated total cost, Ross has been overcharged by $3.75.
Conclusion Therefore, Ross has been overcharged by $3.75, so the correct answer is c.
Examples
Imagine you're planning a bake sale and need to buy ingredients. Calculating the cost of multiple items, applying discounts, and figuring out shipping fees is just like what Ross did. Understanding how to accurately calculate these costs ensures you price your goods correctly to make a profit. This math helps in everyday budgeting and financial planning, from grocery shopping to managing a small business.
Ross was overcharged by $3.75 on his purchase. The correct total should be $90.60, but he was billed $94.35. Therefore, the correct answer is C.
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