A cook found that 11.04 dollars was deducted from his weekly gross earnings of of 240 dollars for income tax. What withholding tax rate was used?

(1) 4.6

Explanation

We will carefully read the problem and use the given facts to write them in the form of a percent sentence. Then we can translate the sentence into a percent equation and solve it to find the unknown withholding tax rate.

$11.04 is what percent of $240?

This is the percent equation to solve.

11.04 = x • 240

To isolate x on the right side of the equation, divide both dies by 240.

$\frac{11.04}{240} = \frac{x \cdot 240}{240}$

To simplify the fraction on the right side of the equation, remove the common factor of 240 from the numerator and denominator.  On the left side, divide 11.04 by 240.

$\require{cancel} 0.046 = \frac{x \cdot \cancel{240}^1}{\cancel{240}_1}$

0.046 = x

To write the decimal 0.046 as a percent, multiply it by 100 by moving the decimal point two places to the right, and then insert a % symbol.

4.6% = x

The withholding tax rate was 4.6.