A customer went to a shop and paid a total of $40, out of which $1.28 was for sales tax on taxable purchases. If the tax rate was 8%, then what was the cost of the tax free items? Answers.
A) $ 19.54
B) $ 2076
C) $ 21.36
D) $ 22.72
E) $ 23.58

Rationale: "the total cost was $ 40 . the tax was $ 1.28 let the original price of the taxable items = x given that tax rate = 8 % 0.08 x = 1.28 x = $ 16 the cost of the tax free items was $ 40 - $ 16 - $ 1.28 = $ 22.72 the answer is d ."
Answer: D