10. A coat costs R228 before VAT is added. What is the cost of the coat, including \( 14 \% \) VAT? Round off your answer to the nearest rand.

To calculate the total cost of the coat including VAT, you need to multiply the original price by \( 1 + 0.14 \) (which accounts for the 14% VAT). So, R228 × 1.14 = R259.92. Rounding off this amount gives us R260. It's interesting to note that VAT (Value Added Tax) was first introduced in France in 1954 as a way to make tax collection less burdensome and to ensure that all parts of production were taxed fairly. Many countries have since adopted VAT, making it a common practice globally!