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Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor

  1. #1
    Robert Morewood
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    [email protected] wrote about someone telling him that to
    "add 28% to $10" he should do the following:

    : First. 100-28 = 72
    : Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    : Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89

    This assures that the added amount ($0.89) is 28% OF THE FINAL TOTAL.

    Of course most (all? - anyone have a counter example?) sales taxes
    are computed (by law) as a percentage OF THE SALE PRICE, not as a
    percentage of the grand total. (Most Canadian provinces have TWO
    sales taxes, federal and provincial, and it is unconstitutional for
    one level of government to tax the taxes of another level of government.
    So sales tax as a percentage of the grand total would be unconstitutional
    here.)

    However, I do have an example where the calculation should be done as
    above. Condominiums in BC must put a percentage of their TOTAL BUDGET
    into a continguency fund. Normally, managers find the budget by
    adding up all the expected operating expenses for the year (say $10).
    Then they have to add an amount (say 28%) for the contingency fund.
    If they just add 28% of $10 (makes $2.80) then the total budget is
    $12.80 and the contingency fund gets only $2.80/$12.80*100%=22%
    of the budget, violating the law! On the other hand, the managers
    in the condominium I used to be part of always did it this way.
    (Actually the legal requirement is only 10% so our condo always
    put aside 9%. But the law has no teeth. Managers do not even have
    to be licensed, yet.)

    Robert, who is
    |)|\/| || Burnaby South Secondary School
    |\| |[email protected] || Beautiful British Columbia
    Mathematics & Computer Science || (Canada)

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  2. #2
    Joseph Sroka-10.2.8
    Guest

    Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $10.00*1.28 = $12.80
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89
    >
    >
    > Now to me this person is crazy. I mean I sold stuff for years and
    > sales tax wasn't that complicated. If something was $10.00 + %5.75tax,
    > the total is $10.58.
    >
    > Not 100-5.75 = 94.25, 100/94.25 = 1.061007, $10.00*1.061007 = $10.61
    >
    > Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    > but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    > from the US would have learned?
    >
    > Thanks for clearing this up.


    First the short answer: I think that you are right and "someone else" is wrong.

    However, quoting markups and markdowns is not something that I do in a
    *business setting*. *Maybe* there are some people that calculate a 28
    percent markup as done by "someone else".

    Here's a mathematics compare-and-contrast of yours and *someone else"'s*
    methods.

    In your example, let's call the $100 cost to you, WP (wholesale price).
    Your method adds 28 percent to WP and comes up with RP (retail price).

    So, what you have done is RP = 1.28*WP. So, you can honestly state that
    your markup is 28 percent of the WP, the cost to you.

    *Someone else" does RP = WP/(1-.28) = WP/.72, a higher retail price than yours.

    So, "someone else" can honestly state that his markup is 28 percent of the
    RP, the retail price.

    I have no idea why anyone would calculate or state their markup as done
    by "someone else". Oh, here's a thought... some businesses apparently
    like to think of markup (gross profit) as a percent of sales, so in THAT
    case, selling the object for $100/.72 = $138.89 results in a 28 percent
    profit on *sales*.

    Your method result in a 28 percent profit on *cost*.

    --- Joe Sent via 10.2.8 at 10:06pm PDT, July 10, 2005.

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  3. #3
    Guess who
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:06:14 GMT, Kevin Killion
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.


    There is "Markup" and "Margin". The concepts used to be part of a
    grade 9 business math course here.

    Here's one reference:

    http://www.csgnetwork.com/marginmarkuptable.html

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  4. #4
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 17:20:04 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.
    >
    >You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    >$10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    >Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    >Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.



    No, no, no.

    The taxman gets 5.75% of the sell price, $10.00. 0.58. Sales tax is
    not charged on sales tax.

    bob


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  5. #5
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    I say, something even a person originally from US should have learned.
    Otherwise, this person originally from US might be laughed-at by
    persons not originally from US.

    Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.

    You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    $10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.
    0.0575 times $10.58 = $ 0.61
    $10.58 minus $0.61 = $9.97
    Hey, that is not $10, after tax!

    Suppose we follow this former foreigner.
    Sale = $10.61
    Tax = 0.0575 times $10.61 = $0.61
    After tax, $10.61 minus $0.61 = $10
    Hey,....
    Zeez, is there magic in what the guy learned from outside the US?

    Hardly. The guy just learned Math as Math is learned in and out of the
    US.

    It is Accounting, maybe.
    But it is just Algebra. Algebra anywhere.

    ----------
    You want a crazier formula?

    Say, you have a product that worth "x".
    You know the sale tax is "t" percent.
    You want add "y" to "x" so that the selling price is (x+y).
    How much should this additinal "y" be so that, after tax, you'd end up
    exactly with "x" from this product.

    Sale price = x+y
    Tax = (x+y)*t
    Net = Sale minus tax = (x+y) -(x+y)t = (x+y)(1-t)

    Net = x, so,
    (x+y)(1-t) = x
    (x+y) = x/(1-t)
    y = x/(1-t) -x
    y = x[1/(1-t) -1]
    y = x[(1 -1(1-t))/(1-t)]
    y = x[t/(1-t)] ---the formula.

    Note: t is in decimals.
    So if the sale tax is 5.75%, then t = 0.0575

    Apply this crazier formula to your $10 example.
    x = $10
    t = 0.575
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(1 -0.0575)]
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(0.9425)]
    y = 10[0.061]
    y = $0.61 -----***

    Meaning, you really need to sell the product at $10.61 (not at $10.58)
    if you want a net of $10 after tax.

    --------
    By the way, if you want to add 28% to $100, you will really end up with
    $128.

    Nobody anywhere will say "No way".

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  6. #6
    Kevin Killion
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor



    You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.

    My wife used to be a buyer at Carson Pirie Scott, a major retailer in
    Chicago. She used to talk about "markups" in this way and it drove me
    (a math major) nuts.

    Suffice to say that it was COMMON in her business for "markup" to refer
    to the amount added to the price, as a percentage of the FINAL price.
    If a price were doubled, math majors and other normal people (!) would
    call that a 100% increase; she and everyone down at CPS would call that
    a 50% markup.

    (By the way, for other responders who mentioned taxes: there is no
    reference to tax anywhere in the original post.)

    -- Kevin Killion



    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $100.00*1.28 = $128.00 [DECIMAL FIXED]
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89


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  7. #7
    Strommsarnac
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    So I guess it comes down to what is proper? I now understand how the
    two formulas could be correct depending on who is doing the looking. I
    can definitely see how the IRS would say "no way" to the quick formula


    So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of
    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who
    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula?


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  8. #8
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:27:43 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Bob,
    >What is sales tax then?


    Tax on the merchant's selling price. This is standard US procedure and
    may be different from European VAT. (If you know of a US place that
    does it differently, let us know.)

    Item sells for $10.00. Sales tax is 8.25% (here), or 0.83. Merchant
    collects 10.83, sends 0.83 to the state government.

    If you honestly thought it was calculated otherwise, this serves to
    reinforce the point that a number of us made in response to the OP...
    be sure you understand the question before answering it. People will
    quibble over getting different answers, when the discrepancy was in
    how they understood the question.

    By the way, we do have an example here (California) of something like
    what you tried. There is also a state gasoline tax -- which is
    included in the regular selling price. The sales tax is calculated on
    top of that. So sales tax is paid on the gas tax. But that is
    something of a special case.

    regards,

    bob'

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  9. #9
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Bob,
    What is sales tax then?

    --------------
    Taxman sees sale is $10.58
    Taxman gets his 5.75% of that, which is $0.61

    Taxman doesn't know---and he never cares---that 5.75% of $10 was added
    to the $10.

    Taxman never cares too if the original $10 were sold at $20. In this
    case, if sales is $20, tax is 5.75% of $20.

    --------------------------

    Sales tax, Bob, sales tax.


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  10. #10
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Strommsarnac,

    What is the quick formula? Is that the one by the guy who was not
    originally from the US? Is that the one were he got $10.61?

    And $13.89?, which should have been $138.89 because it was based from a
    $100.

    ----------------------------
    Or, the quick formula is 100 *1.28 = $128 ?
    And the long formula is 100*1.38889 = $138.89 ?

    -------------------------------------
    >So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of

    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who

    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula? <

    Is that applicable here?
    Or, are the "quick" or "long" formulas mentioned above applicable to
    your marketing?

    The "long" formula is to get back the price you want, even after tax.

    .....but still be competitive...
    Looks like you have a different wish here. I'd say, to be less
    complicated, just use the "quick" formula.
    Regarding the analyzed $10-stuff, the $9.97 is surely more competitive
    than the $10----both after tax.

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  11. #11
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 17:20:04 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.
    >
    >You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    >$10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    >Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    >Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.



    No, no, no.

    The taxman gets 5.75% of the sell price, $10.00. 0.58. Sales tax is
    not charged on sales tax.

    bob


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  12. #12
    Joseph Sroka-10.2.8
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $10.00*1.28 = $12.80
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89
    >
    >
    > Now to me this person is crazy. I mean I sold stuff for years and
    > sales tax wasn't that complicated. If something was $10.00 + %5.75tax,
    > the total is $10.58.
    >
    > Not 100-5.75 = 94.25, 100/94.25 = 1.061007, $10.00*1.061007 = $10.61
    >
    > Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    > but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    > from the US would have learned?
    >
    > Thanks for clearing this up.


    First the short answer: I think that you are right and "someone else" is wrong.

    However, quoting markups and markdowns is not something that I do in a
    *business setting*. *Maybe* there are some people that calculate a 28
    percent markup as done by "someone else".

    Here's a mathematics compare-and-contrast of yours and *someone else"'s*
    methods.

    In your example, let's call the $100 cost to you, WP (wholesale price).
    Your method adds 28 percent to WP and comes up with RP (retail price).

    So, what you have done is RP = 1.28*WP. So, you can honestly state that
    your markup is 28 percent of the WP, the cost to you.

    *Someone else" does RP = WP/(1-.28) = WP/.72, a higher retail price than yours.

    So, "someone else" can honestly state that his markup is 28 percent of the
    RP, the retail price.

    I have no idea why anyone would calculate or state their markup as done
    by "someone else". Oh, here's a thought... some businesses apparently
    like to think of markup (gross profit) as a percent of sales, so in THAT
    case, selling the object for $100/.72 = $138.89 results in a 28 percent
    profit on *sales*.

    Your method result in a 28 percent profit on *cost*.

    --- Joe Sent via 10.2.8 at 10:06pm PDT, July 10, 2005.

    --
    ------------------------------------
    Delete the second "o" to email me.

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  13. #13
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Bob,
    What is sales tax then?

    --------------
    Taxman sees sale is $10.58
    Taxman gets his 5.75% of that, which is $0.61

    Taxman doesn't know---and he never cares---that 5.75% of $10 was added
    to the $10.

    Taxman never cares too if the original $10 were sold at $20. In this
    case, if sales is $20, tax is 5.75% of $20.

    --------------------------

    Sales tax, Bob, sales tax.


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  14. #14
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Strommsarnac,

    What is the quick formula? Is that the one by the guy who was not
    originally from the US? Is that the one were he got $10.61?

    And $13.89?, which should have been $138.89 because it was based from a
    $100.

    ----------------------------
    Or, the quick formula is 100 *1.28 = $128 ?
    And the long formula is 100*1.38889 = $138.89 ?

    -------------------------------------
    >So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of

    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who

    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula? <

    Is that applicable here?
    Or, are the "quick" or "long" formulas mentioned above applicable to
    your marketing?

    The "long" formula is to get back the price you want, even after tax.

    .....but still be competitive...
    Looks like you have a different wish here. I'd say, to be less
    complicated, just use the "quick" formula.
    Regarding the analyzed $10-stuff, the $9.97 is surely more competitive
    than the $10----both after tax.

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  15. #15
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:27:43 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Bob,
    >What is sales tax then?


    Tax on the merchant's selling price. This is standard US procedure and
    may be different from European VAT. (If you know of a US place that
    does it differently, let us know.)

    Item sells for $10.00. Sales tax is 8.25% (here), or 0.83. Merchant
    collects 10.83, sends 0.83 to the state government.

    If you honestly thought it was calculated otherwise, this serves to
    reinforce the point that a number of us made in response to the OP...
    be sure you understand the question before answering it. People will
    quibble over getting different answers, when the discrepancy was in
    how they understood the question.

    By the way, we do have an example here (California) of something like
    what you tried. There is also a state gasoline tax -- which is
    included in the regular selling price. The sales tax is calculated on
    top of that. So sales tax is paid on the gas tax. But that is
    something of a special case.

    regards,

    bob'

    --
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  16. #16
    Kevin Killion
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor



    You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.

    My wife used to be a buyer at Carson Pirie Scott, a major retailer in
    Chicago. She used to talk about "markups" in this way and it drove me
    (a math major) nuts.

    Suffice to say that it was COMMON in her business for "markup" to refer
    to the amount added to the price, as a percentage of the FINAL price.
    If a price were doubled, math majors and other normal people (!) would
    call that a 100% increase; she and everyone down at CPS would call that
    a 50% markup.

    (By the way, for other responders who mentioned taxes: there is no
    reference to tax anywhere in the original post.)

    -- Kevin Killion



    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $100.00*1.28 = $128.00 [DECIMAL FIXED]
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89


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  17. #17
    Guess who
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:06:14 GMT, Kevin Killion
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.


    There is "Markup" and "Margin". The concepts used to be part of a
    grade 9 business math course here.

    Here's one reference:

    http://www.csgnetwork.com/marginmarkuptable.html

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  18. #18
    Robert Morewood
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    [email protected] wrote about someone telling him that to
    "add 28% to $10" he should do the following:

    : First. 100-28 = 72
    : Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    : Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89

    This assures that the added amount ($0.89) is 28% OF THE FINAL TOTAL.

    Of course most (all? - anyone have a counter example?) sales taxes
    are computed (by law) as a percentage OF THE SALE PRICE, not as a
    percentage of the grand total. (Most Canadian provinces have TWO
    sales taxes, federal and provincial, and it is unconstitutional for
    one level of government to tax the taxes of another level of government.
    So sales tax as a percentage of the grand total would be unconstitutional
    here.)

    However, I do have an example where the calculation should be done as
    above. Condominiums in BC must put a percentage of their TOTAL BUDGET
    into a continguency fund. Normally, managers find the budget by
    adding up all the expected operating expenses for the year (say $10).
    Then they have to add an amount (say 28%) for the contingency fund.
    If they just add 28% of $10 (makes $2.80) then the total budget is
    $12.80 and the contingency fund gets only $2.80/$12.80*100%=22%
    of the budget, violating the law! On the other hand, the managers
    in the condominium I used to be part of always did it this way.
    (Actually the legal requirement is only 10% so our condo always
    put aside 9%. But the law has no teeth. Managers do not even have
    to be licensed, yet.)

    Robert, who is
    |)|\/| || Burnaby South Secondary School
    |\| |[email protected] || Beautiful British Columbia
    Mathematics & Computer Science || (Canada)

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  19. #19
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    I say, something even a person originally from US should have learned.
    Otherwise, this person originally from US might be laughed-at by
    persons not originally from US.

    Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.

    You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    $10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.
    0.0575 times $10.58 = $ 0.61
    $10.58 minus $0.61 = $9.97
    Hey, that is not $10, after tax!

    Suppose we follow this former foreigner.
    Sale = $10.61
    Tax = 0.0575 times $10.61 = $0.61
    After tax, $10.61 minus $0.61 = $10
    Hey,....
    Zeez, is there magic in what the guy learned from outside the US?

    Hardly. The guy just learned Math as Math is learned in and out of the
    US.

    It is Accounting, maybe.
    But it is just Algebra. Algebra anywhere.

    ----------
    You want a crazier formula?

    Say, you have a product that worth "x".
    You know the sale tax is "t" percent.
    You want add "y" to "x" so that the selling price is (x+y).
    How much should this additinal "y" be so that, after tax, you'd end up
    exactly with "x" from this product.

    Sale price = x+y
    Tax = (x+y)*t
    Net = Sale minus tax = (x+y) -(x+y)t = (x+y)(1-t)

    Net = x, so,
    (x+y)(1-t) = x
    (x+y) = x/(1-t)
    y = x/(1-t) -x
    y = x[1/(1-t) -1]
    y = x[(1 -1(1-t))/(1-t)]
    y = x[t/(1-t)] ---the formula.

    Note: t is in decimals.
    So if the sale tax is 5.75%, then t = 0.0575

    Apply this crazier formula to your $10 example.
    x = $10
    t = 0.575
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(1 -0.0575)]
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(0.9425)]
    y = 10[0.061]
    y = $0.61 -----***

    Meaning, you really need to sell the product at $10.61 (not at $10.58)
    if you want a net of $10 after tax.

    --------
    By the way, if you want to add 28% to $100, you will really end up with
    $128.

    Nobody anywhere will say "No way".

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  20. #20
    Strommsarnac
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    So I guess it comes down to what is proper? I now understand how the
    two formulas could be correct depending on who is doing the looking. I
    can definitely see how the IRS would say "no way" to the quick formula


    So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of
    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who
    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula?


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  21. #21
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 17:20:04 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.
    >
    >You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    >$10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    >Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    >Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.



    No, no, no.

    The taxman gets 5.75% of the sell price, $10.00. 0.58. Sales tax is
    not charged on sales tax.

    bob


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  22. #22
    Kevin Killion
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor



    You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.

    My wife used to be a buyer at Carson Pirie Scott, a major retailer in
    Chicago. She used to talk about "markups" in this way and it drove me
    (a math major) nuts.

    Suffice to say that it was COMMON in her business for "markup" to refer
    to the amount added to the price, as a percentage of the FINAL price.
    If a price were doubled, math majors and other normal people (!) would
    call that a 100% increase; she and everyone down at CPS would call that
    a 50% markup.

    (By the way, for other responders who mentioned taxes: there is no
    reference to tax anywhere in the original post.)

    -- Kevin Killion



    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $100.00*1.28 = $128.00 [DECIMAL FIXED]
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89


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  23. #23
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    I say, something even a person originally from US should have learned.
    Otherwise, this person originally from US might be laughed-at by
    persons not originally from US.

    Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.

    You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    $10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.
    0.0575 times $10.58 = $ 0.61
    $10.58 minus $0.61 = $9.97
    Hey, that is not $10, after tax!

    Suppose we follow this former foreigner.
    Sale = $10.61
    Tax = 0.0575 times $10.61 = $0.61
    After tax, $10.61 minus $0.61 = $10
    Hey,....
    Zeez, is there magic in what the guy learned from outside the US?

    Hardly. The guy just learned Math as Math is learned in and out of the
    US.

    It is Accounting, maybe.
    But it is just Algebra. Algebra anywhere.

    ----------
    You want a crazier formula?

    Say, you have a product that worth "x".
    You know the sale tax is "t" percent.
    You want add "y" to "x" so that the selling price is (x+y).
    How much should this additinal "y" be so that, after tax, you'd end up
    exactly with "x" from this product.

    Sale price = x+y
    Tax = (x+y)*t
    Net = Sale minus tax = (x+y) -(x+y)t = (x+y)(1-t)

    Net = x, so,
    (x+y)(1-t) = x
    (x+y) = x/(1-t)
    y = x/(1-t) -x
    y = x[1/(1-t) -1]
    y = x[(1 -1(1-t))/(1-t)]
    y = x[t/(1-t)] ---the formula.

    Note: t is in decimals.
    So if the sale tax is 5.75%, then t = 0.0575

    Apply this crazier formula to your $10 example.
    x = $10
    t = 0.575
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(1 -0.0575)]
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(0.9425)]
    y = 10[0.061]
    y = $0.61 -----***

    Meaning, you really need to sell the product at $10.61 (not at $10.58)
    if you want a net of $10 after tax.

    --------
    By the way, if you want to add 28% to $100, you will really end up with
    $128.

    Nobody anywhere will say "No way".

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  24. #24
    Guess who
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:06:14 GMT, Kevin Killion
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.


    There is "Markup" and "Margin". The concepts used to be part of a
    grade 9 business math course here.

    Here's one reference:

    http://www.csgnetwork.com/marginmarkuptable.html

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  25. #25
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:27:43 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Bob,
    >What is sales tax then?


    Tax on the merchant's selling price. This is standard US procedure and
    may be different from European VAT. (If you know of a US place that
    does it differently, let us know.)

    Item sells for $10.00. Sales tax is 8.25% (here), or 0.83. Merchant
    collects 10.83, sends 0.83 to the state government.

    If you honestly thought it was calculated otherwise, this serves to
    reinforce the point that a number of us made in response to the OP...
    be sure you understand the question before answering it. People will
    quibble over getting different answers, when the discrepancy was in
    how they understood the question.

    By the way, we do have an example here (California) of something like
    what you tried. There is also a state gasoline tax -- which is
    included in the regular selling price. The sales tax is calculated on
    top of that. So sales tax is paid on the gas tax. But that is
    something of a special case.

    regards,

    bob'

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  26. #26
    Strommsarnac
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    So I guess it comes down to what is proper? I now understand how the
    two formulas could be correct depending on who is doing the looking. I
    can definitely see how the IRS would say "no way" to the quick formula


    So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of
    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who
    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula?


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  27. #27
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Strommsarnac,

    What is the quick formula? Is that the one by the guy who was not
    originally from the US? Is that the one were he got $10.61?

    And $13.89?, which should have been $138.89 because it was based from a
    $100.

    ----------------------------
    Or, the quick formula is 100 *1.28 = $128 ?
    And the long formula is 100*1.38889 = $138.89 ?

    -------------------------------------
    >So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of

    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who

    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula? <

    Is that applicable here?
    Or, are the "quick" or "long" formulas mentioned above applicable to
    your marketing?

    The "long" formula is to get back the price you want, even after tax.

    .....but still be competitive...
    Looks like you have a different wish here. I'd say, to be less
    complicated, just use the "quick" formula.
    Regarding the analyzed $10-stuff, the $9.97 is surely more competitive
    than the $10----both after tax.

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  28. #28
    Joseph Sroka-10.2.8
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $10.00*1.28 = $12.80
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89
    >
    >
    > Now to me this person is crazy. I mean I sold stuff for years and
    > sales tax wasn't that complicated. If something was $10.00 + %5.75tax,
    > the total is $10.58.
    >
    > Not 100-5.75 = 94.25, 100/94.25 = 1.061007, $10.00*1.061007 = $10.61
    >
    > Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    > but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    > from the US would have learned?
    >
    > Thanks for clearing this up.


    First the short answer: I think that you are right and "someone else" is wrong.

    However, quoting markups and markdowns is not something that I do in a
    *business setting*. *Maybe* there are some people that calculate a 28
    percent markup as done by "someone else".

    Here's a mathematics compare-and-contrast of yours and *someone else"'s*
    methods.

    In your example, let's call the $100 cost to you, WP (wholesale price).
    Your method adds 28 percent to WP and comes up with RP (retail price).

    So, what you have done is RP = 1.28*WP. So, you can honestly state that
    your markup is 28 percent of the WP, the cost to you.

    *Someone else" does RP = WP/(1-.28) = WP/.72, a higher retail price than yours.

    So, "someone else" can honestly state that his markup is 28 percent of the
    RP, the retail price.

    I have no idea why anyone would calculate or state their markup as done
    by "someone else". Oh, here's a thought... some businesses apparently
    like to think of markup (gross profit) as a percent of sales, so in THAT
    case, selling the object for $100/.72 = $138.89 results in a 28 percent
    profit on *sales*.

    Your method result in a 28 percent profit on *cost*.

    --- Joe Sent via 10.2.8 at 10:06pm PDT, July 10, 2005.

    --
    ------------------------------------
    Delete the second "o" to email me.

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  29. #29
    Robert Morewood
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    [email protected] wrote about someone telling him that to
    "add 28% to $10" he should do the following:

    : First. 100-28 = 72
    : Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    : Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89

    This assures that the added amount ($0.89) is 28% OF THE FINAL TOTAL.

    Of course most (all? - anyone have a counter example?) sales taxes
    are computed (by law) as a percentage OF THE SALE PRICE, not as a
    percentage of the grand total. (Most Canadian provinces have TWO
    sales taxes, federal and provincial, and it is unconstitutional for
    one level of government to tax the taxes of another level of government.
    So sales tax as a percentage of the grand total would be unconstitutional
    here.)

    However, I do have an example where the calculation should be done as
    above. Condominiums in BC must put a percentage of their TOTAL BUDGET
    into a continguency fund. Normally, managers find the budget by
    adding up all the expected operating expenses for the year (say $10).
    Then they have to add an amount (say 28%) for the contingency fund.
    If they just add 28% of $10 (makes $2.80) then the total budget is
    $12.80 and the contingency fund gets only $2.80/$12.80*100%=22%
    of the budget, violating the law! On the other hand, the managers
    in the condominium I used to be part of always did it this way.
    (Actually the legal requirement is only 10% so our condo always
    put aside 9%. But the law has no teeth. Managers do not even have
    to be licensed, yet.)

    Robert, who is
    |)|\/| || Burnaby South Secondary School
    |\| |[email protected] || Beautiful British Columbia
    Mathematics & Computer Science || (Canada)

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  30. #30
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Bob,
    What is sales tax then?

    --------------
    Taxman sees sale is $10.58
    Taxman gets his 5.75% of that, which is $0.61

    Taxman doesn't know---and he never cares---that 5.75% of $10 was added
    to the $10.

    Taxman never cares too if the original $10 were sold at $20. In this
    case, if sales is $20, tax is 5.75% of $20.

    --------------------------

    Sales tax, Bob, sales tax.


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  31. #31

    Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.


    Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00

    I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.

    My math is simply $10.00*1.28 = $12.80

    However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    the following.

    First. 100-x=y
    Second. 100/y=z
    Third. A*z=$$$.$$

    So,
    First. 100-28 = 72
    Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89


    Now to me this person is crazy. I mean I sold stuff for years and
    sales tax wasn't that complicated. If something was $10.00 + %5.75tax,
    the total is $10.58.

    Not 100-5.75 = 94.25, 100/94.25 = 1.061007, $10.00*1.061007 = $10.61

    Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    from the US would have learned?

    Thanks for clearing this up.

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  32. #32
    Guess who
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:06:14 GMT, Kevin Killion
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.


    There is "Markup" and "Margin". The concepts used to be part of a
    grade 9 business math course here.

    Here's one reference:

    http://www.csgnetwork.com/marginmarkuptable.html

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  33. #33
    Robert Morewood
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    [email protected] wrote about someone telling him that to
    "add 28% to $10" he should do the following:

    : First. 100-28 = 72
    : Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    : Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89

    This assures that the added amount ($0.89) is 28% OF THE FINAL TOTAL.

    Of course most (all? - anyone have a counter example?) sales taxes
    are computed (by law) as a percentage OF THE SALE PRICE, not as a
    percentage of the grand total. (Most Canadian provinces have TWO
    sales taxes, federal and provincial, and it is unconstitutional for
    one level of government to tax the taxes of another level of government.
    So sales tax as a percentage of the grand total would be unconstitutional
    here.)

    However, I do have an example where the calculation should be done as
    above. Condominiums in BC must put a percentage of their TOTAL BUDGET
    into a continguency fund. Normally, managers find the budget by
    adding up all the expected operating expenses for the year (say $10).
    Then they have to add an amount (say 28%) for the contingency fund.
    If they just add 28% of $10 (makes $2.80) then the total budget is
    $12.80 and the contingency fund gets only $2.80/$12.80*100%=22%
    of the budget, violating the law! On the other hand, the managers
    in the condominium I used to be part of always did it this way.
    (Actually the legal requirement is only 10% so our condo always
    put aside 9%. But the law has no teeth. Managers do not even have
    to be licensed, yet.)

    Robert, who is
    |)|\/| || Burnaby South Secondary School
    |\| |[email protected] || Beautiful British Columbia
    Mathematics & Computer Science || (Canada)

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  34. #34
    JE McGimpsey
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor

    It's the difference between margin and markup, and it's very much real
    world practice.

    If you want to mark up your price to 28% over *cost*, then your way is
    absolutely correct:

    =(128 - 100)/100 ===> 28%

    However, that means that your margin, or %profit on *sales* is only

    =(128 - 100)/128 ===> 21.875%

    If you want to make 28% profit on sales, you need to use

    = 100/(1-28%) ===> $138.89

    Check your profit as a percentage of sales:

    = (138.89 - 100)/138.89 ===> 28%




    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] wrote:

    >
    > Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    > but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    > from the US would have learned?
    >
    > Thanks for clearing this up.


  35. #35
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 02:05:29 GMT, [email protected] wrote:

    >
    >Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    >I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    >My math is simply $10.00*1.28 = $12.80


    Given your statement of the question, what you did is correct.

    (Though please note that you changed the numbers by 10-fold from your
    line 2 to line 3.)


    >
    >However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    >the following.
    >
    >First. 100-x=y
    >Second. 100/y=z
    >Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    >So,
    >First. 100-28 = 72
    >Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    >Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89
    >
    >
    >Now to me this person is crazy. I mean I sold stuff for years and
    >sales tax wasn't that complicated. If something was $10.00 + %5.75tax,
    >the total is $10.58.
    >
    >Not 100-5.75 = 94.25, 100/94.25 = 1.061007, $10.00*1.061007 = $10.61
    >
    >Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    >but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    >from the US would have learned?
    >



    Not sure what the person was trying to do. It is a common problem to
    "do the reverse". Eg... sells for 12.80. Markup was 28%. What was your
    cost. But what you show above does not fit that.


    SellPrice = cost + (cost * rate) = cost(1+rate)
    where rate is the tax or markup, as a decimal.

    According to your statement, you have Cost, want SellPrice. It is a
    proper question to have SellPrice, and want Cost. Your friend may have
    been thinking of that -- though did not do it right. You might explain
    that case to him.


    Key... be clear what the question is.

    bob


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  36. #36
    Joseph Sroka-10.2.8
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $10.00*1.28 = $12.80
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89
    >
    >
    > Now to me this person is crazy. I mean I sold stuff for years and
    > sales tax wasn't that complicated. If something was $10.00 + %5.75tax,
    > the total is $10.58.
    >
    > Not 100-5.75 = 94.25, 100/94.25 = 1.061007, $10.00*1.061007 = $10.61
    >
    > Why would he think that he's correct? Is it some accounting practice,
    > but not real world practice? Or maybe something a person not originally
    > from the US would have learned?
    >
    > Thanks for clearing this up.


    First the short answer: I think that you are right and "someone else" is wrong.

    However, quoting markups and markdowns is not something that I do in a
    *business setting*. *Maybe* there are some people that calculate a 28
    percent markup as done by "someone else".

    Here's a mathematics compare-and-contrast of yours and *someone else"'s*
    methods.

    In your example, let's call the $100 cost to you, WP (wholesale price).
    Your method adds 28 percent to WP and comes up with RP (retail price).

    So, what you have done is RP = 1.28*WP. So, you can honestly state that
    your markup is 28 percent of the WP, the cost to you.

    *Someone else" does RP = WP/(1-.28) = WP/.72, a higher retail price than yours.

    So, "someone else" can honestly state that his markup is 28 percent of the
    RP, the retail price.

    I have no idea why anyone would calculate or state their markup as done
    by "someone else". Oh, here's a thought... some businesses apparently
    like to think of markup (gross profit) as a percent of sales, so in THAT
    case, selling the object for $100/.72 = $138.89 results in a 28 percent
    profit on *sales*.

    Your method result in a 28 percent profit on *cost*.

    --- Joe Sent via 10.2.8 at 10:06pm PDT, July 10, 2005.

    --
    ------------------------------------
    Delete the second "o" to email me.

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  37. #37
    Kevin Killion
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor



    You're both right -- it's a matter of definitions.

    My wife used to be a buyer at Carson Pirie Scott, a major retailer in
    Chicago. She used to talk about "markups" in this way and it drove me
    (a math major) nuts.

    Suffice to say that it was COMMON in her business for "markup" to refer
    to the amount added to the price, as a percentage of the FINAL price.
    If a price were doubled, math majors and other normal people (!) would
    call that a 100% increase; she and everyone down at CPS would call that
    a 50% markup.

    (By the way, for other responders who mentioned taxes: there is no
    reference to tax anywhere in the original post.)

    -- Kevin Killion



    [email protected] wrote:

    > Here's my view. Say I have a product with my cost of $100.00
    >
    > I want to add 28% to that. I think I should end up at $128.00.
    >
    > My math is simply $100.00*1.28 = $128.00 [DECIMAL FIXED]
    >
    > However, I have had someone else tell me that I'm wrong and need to do
    > the following.
    >
    > First. 100-x=y
    > Second. 100/y=z
    > Third. A*z=$$$.$$
    >
    > So,
    > First. 100-28 = 72
    > Second. 100/72 = 1.38888889
    > Third. 10*1.3889 = $13.89


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  38. #38
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    I say, something even a person originally from US should have learned.
    Otherwise, this person originally from US might be laughed-at by
    persons not originally from US.

    Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.

    You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    $10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.
    0.0575 times $10.58 = $ 0.61
    $10.58 minus $0.61 = $9.97
    Hey, that is not $10, after tax!

    Suppose we follow this former foreigner.
    Sale = $10.61
    Tax = 0.0575 times $10.61 = $0.61
    After tax, $10.61 minus $0.61 = $10
    Hey,....
    Zeez, is there magic in what the guy learned from outside the US?

    Hardly. The guy just learned Math as Math is learned in and out of the
    US.

    It is Accounting, maybe.
    But it is just Algebra. Algebra anywhere.

    ----------
    You want a crazier formula?

    Say, you have a product that worth "x".
    You know the sale tax is "t" percent.
    You want add "y" to "x" so that the selling price is (x+y).
    How much should this additinal "y" be so that, after tax, you'd end up
    exactly with "x" from this product.

    Sale price = x+y
    Tax = (x+y)*t
    Net = Sale minus tax = (x+y) -(x+y)t = (x+y)(1-t)

    Net = x, so,
    (x+y)(1-t) = x
    (x+y) = x/(1-t)
    y = x/(1-t) -x
    y = x[1/(1-t) -1]
    y = x[(1 -1(1-t))/(1-t)]
    y = x[t/(1-t)] ---the formula.

    Note: t is in decimals.
    So if the sale tax is 5.75%, then t = 0.0575

    Apply this crazier formula to your $10 example.
    x = $10
    t = 0.575
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(1 -0.0575)]
    y = 10[(0.0575)/(0.9425)]
    y = 10[0.061]
    y = $0.61 -----***

    Meaning, you really need to sell the product at $10.61 (not at $10.58)
    if you want a net of $10 after tax.

    --------
    By the way, if you want to add 28% to $100, you will really end up with
    $128.

    Nobody anywhere will say "No way".

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  39. #39
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 19:27:43 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Bob,
    >What is sales tax then?


    Tax on the merchant's selling price. This is standard US procedure and
    may be different from European VAT. (If you know of a US place that
    does it differently, let us know.)

    Item sells for $10.00. Sales tax is 8.25% (here), or 0.83. Merchant
    collects 10.83, sends 0.83 to the state government.

    If you honestly thought it was calculated otherwise, this serves to
    reinforce the point that a number of us made in response to the OP...
    be sure you understand the question before answering it. People will
    quibble over getting different answers, when the discrepancy was in
    how they understood the question.

    By the way, we do have an example here (California) of something like
    what you tried. There is also a state gasoline tax -- which is
    included in the regular selling price. The sales tax is calculated on
    top of that. So sales tax is paid on the gas tax. But that is
    something of a special case.

    regards,

    bob'

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  40. #40
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Strommsarnac,

    What is the quick formula? Is that the one by the guy who was not
    originally from the US? Is that the one were he got $10.61?

    And $13.89?, which should have been $138.89 because it was based from a
    $100.

    ----------------------------
    Or, the quick formula is 100 *1.28 = $128 ?
    And the long formula is 100*1.38889 = $138.89 ?

    -------------------------------------
    >So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of

    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who

    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula? <

    Is that applicable here?
    Or, are the "quick" or "long" formulas mentioned above applicable to
    your marketing?

    The "long" formula is to get back the price you want, even after tax.

    .....but still be competitive...
    Looks like you have a different wish here. I'd say, to be less
    complicated, just use the "quick" formula.
    Regarding the analyzed $10-stuff, the $9.97 is surely more competitive
    than the $10----both after tax.

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  41. #41
    Strommsarnac
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    So I guess it comes down to what is proper? I now understand how the
    two formulas could be correct depending on who is doing the looking. I
    can definitely see how the IRS would say "no way" to the quick formula


    So, if I have a product I make and want to put in a percentage of
    markup (to cover my labor) and then also add a percentage for a rep who
    sells the product, but still be competitive in the market....

    Quick formula or long formula?


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  42. #42
    Bob
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 17:20:04 GMT, "ticbol" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >Let us analyze your $10-stuff example.
    >
    >You said if 5.75%, you just add 5.75 % of $10, which is $0.58, to the
    >$10. So you sell the stuff at $10.58.
    >Ok, so sale price is $10.58.
    >Then taxman gets his 5.75% of $10.58.



    No, no, no.

    The taxman gets 5.75% of the sell price, $10.00. 0.58. Sales tax is
    not charged on sales tax.

    bob


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  43. #43
    ticbol
    Guest

    re: Confusion on adding percentage of cost to that cost.-Why would he think that he's cor


    Bob,
    What is sales tax then?

    --------------
    Taxman sees sale is $10.58
    Taxman gets his 5.75% of that, which is $0.61

    Taxman doesn't know---and he never cares---that 5.75% of $10 was added
    to the $10.

    Taxman never cares too if the original $10 were sold at $20. In this
    case, if sales is $20, tax is 5.75% of $20.

    --------------------------

    Sales tax, Bob, sales tax.


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