19. Maria paid \( \$ 24.65 \) for her meal at a restaurant. If that price included a tax of 8.25 percent, what was the price of the meal before tax? (A) \( \$ 22.61 \) (B) \( \$ 22.68 \) (C) \( \$ 22.77 \) (D) \( \$ 22.82 \) (E) \( \$ 22.93 \)

To find the price of the meal before tax, we can denote the price before tax as \( P \). Since the tax rate is 8.25%, the total cost can be represented as: \[ P + 0.0825P = 24.65 \] This simplifies to: \[ 1.0825P = 24.65 \] Now solving for \( P \): \[ P = \frac{24.65}{1.0825} \approx 22.77 \] Thus, the price of the meal before tax is approximately \( \$ 22.77 \). The correct answer is (C) \( \$ 22.77 \). For future reference, tax calculations can be tricky! Remember, when you're including tax in your calculations, always start by expressing it as a decimal (like 8.25% = 0.0825) and ensure to multiply by the original amount + 1 to get the total price. Did you know that understanding tax calculations can be super handy in real life? Whether you're dining, shopping, or planning a budget, knowing how to determine pre-tax prices can save you some serious cash and make you a savvy spender!