The sales tax in one towns 8%. So, the total cost of an item can be written as c + 0.08c. What is the total cost of an item that sells for $12?

Short answer:

TotalCost = 12.96

Long answer:

It gives you the equation of

total cost = C + 0.08C

You just need to plug-in the $12 to the equation.

In other words, the equation is:

TotalCost = 12 + 0.08*12

TotalCost = 12 + 0.96

TotalCost = 12.96