Christie purchased a scarf marked $15.50 and gloves marked $5.50. Both items were on sale for 20% off the marked price. Christie paid 5% sales tax on her purchase. How much did she spend?

First ?nd out the sale price of the scarf and the gloves. They are both 20% off, that means in which Christie paid 80% of the original price (100% - 20% = 80%). To ?nd out 80% of each price, multiply the price through the decimal equivalent of 80% (0.80); $15.50 × 0.80 = $12.40. $5.50 × 0.80 = $4.40. Together the two items cost $16.80 ($12.40 + $4.40 = $16.80). There is 5% sales tax on the total price. To ?nd out 5% of $16.80, multiply $16.80 through the decimal equivalent of 5% (0.05); $16.80 × 0.05 = $0.84. The tax is $0.84. Christie paid a total of $17.64 ($16.80 + $0.84 = $17.64).