Lance bought notebooks that cost each and pens that cost each. A
sales tax will be applied to the total cost. Which expression represents the total
amount Lance paid, including tax?
A
B
C
D

To calculate the total amount Lance paid, we need to find the total cost of the notebooks and pens before tax and then apply the sales tax. The cost for the notebooks is and for the pens is . So, the total before tax will be . Now, to find the total with tax, we take this total and add of it, represented as . Therefore, we should calculate it as:

Total amount paid = Total cost + Sales tax = .

This corresponds to option B!

Choosing option B: is the correct way to express the total amount including tax.

Keep in mind that mathematical expressions involving percentages can sometimes be tricky, especially in verbal problems. It’s always a good strategy to break down the total costs first before applying the taxes in steps.