Price Calculation Paradox: How to cover tax and fees when these values depend upon one another
I have a real-world math problem pertaining to a pricing formula, a paradox.
In this formula, two adjustments are needed, but both depend on knowing the result of each other first.
I need to apply an adjustment to cover tax:
$$ begin{align} P_{tax-adjusted} = P_{fee-adjusted} times 1.1 end{align}$$
I also need to apply another adjustment to cover fees.
$$ begin{align} P_{fee-adjusted} = P_{tax-adjusted} times frac{1}{0.88} end{align}$$
But both the tax and fee adjustment depend on knowing each other first, so you end up in an infinite cycle of having to adjust one for the other. How do I resolve this paradox?
Edit:
For more context
Fee is 12% of final sale price
Tax is 10% of final sale price
You can see how this creates a dilemma. Fee adjustment depends on knowing the tax-adjusted price, and tax adjustment depends on knowing the fee-adjusted price.
arithmetic economics
add a comment |
I have a real-world math problem pertaining to a pricing formula, a paradox.
In this formula, two adjustments are needed, but both depend on knowing the result of each other first.
I need to apply an adjustment to cover tax:
$$ begin{align} P_{tax-adjusted} = P_{fee-adjusted} times 1.1 end{align}$$
I also need to apply another adjustment to cover fees.
$$ begin{align} P_{fee-adjusted} = P_{tax-adjusted} times frac{1}{0.88} end{align}$$
But both the tax and fee adjustment depend on knowing each other first, so you end up in an infinite cycle of having to adjust one for the other. How do I resolve this paradox?
Edit:
For more context
Fee is 12% of final sale price
Tax is 10% of final sale price
You can see how this creates a dilemma. Fee adjustment depends on knowing the tax-adjusted price, and tax adjustment depends on knowing the fee-adjusted price.
arithmetic economics
A little more context would help us to understand your problem. How much is the fee, tax rate, etc, for instance? The two equations are contradictory.
– callculus
2 days ago
1
From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price}=1.1cdot textrm{ (sales price-taxes)}}$ and $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price=} 1.12 cdot textrm{ (sales price - fee)}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
But how do we formulate one single equation in which taxes and fees are both factored into the final price?
– ptrcao
2 days ago
I have to correct my equations. From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{0.9cdot textrm{ sales price}= textrm{ sales price-taxes}}$ and $color{blue}{0.88cdot textrm{ sales price=} textrm{ sales price - fee}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
add a comment |
I have a real-world math problem pertaining to a pricing formula, a paradox.
In this formula, two adjustments are needed, but both depend on knowing the result of each other first.
I need to apply an adjustment to cover tax:
$$ begin{align} P_{tax-adjusted} = P_{fee-adjusted} times 1.1 end{align}$$
I also need to apply another adjustment to cover fees.
$$ begin{align} P_{fee-adjusted} = P_{tax-adjusted} times frac{1}{0.88} end{align}$$
But both the tax and fee adjustment depend on knowing each other first, so you end up in an infinite cycle of having to adjust one for the other. How do I resolve this paradox?
Edit:
For more context
Fee is 12% of final sale price
Tax is 10% of final sale price
You can see how this creates a dilemma. Fee adjustment depends on knowing the tax-adjusted price, and tax adjustment depends on knowing the fee-adjusted price.
arithmetic economics
I have a real-world math problem pertaining to a pricing formula, a paradox.
In this formula, two adjustments are needed, but both depend on knowing the result of each other first.
I need to apply an adjustment to cover tax:
$$ begin{align} P_{tax-adjusted} = P_{fee-adjusted} times 1.1 end{align}$$
I also need to apply another adjustment to cover fees.
$$ begin{align} P_{fee-adjusted} = P_{tax-adjusted} times frac{1}{0.88} end{align}$$
But both the tax and fee adjustment depend on knowing each other first, so you end up in an infinite cycle of having to adjust one for the other. How do I resolve this paradox?
Edit:
For more context
Fee is 12% of final sale price
Tax is 10% of final sale price
You can see how this creates a dilemma. Fee adjustment depends on knowing the tax-adjusted price, and tax adjustment depends on knowing the fee-adjusted price.
arithmetic economics
arithmetic economics
edited 2 days ago
Blue
47.7k870151
47.7k870151
asked 2 days ago
ptrcaoptrcao
155213
155213
A little more context would help us to understand your problem. How much is the fee, tax rate, etc, for instance? The two equations are contradictory.
– callculus
2 days ago
1
From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price}=1.1cdot textrm{ (sales price-taxes)}}$ and $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price=} 1.12 cdot textrm{ (sales price - fee)}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
But how do we formulate one single equation in which taxes and fees are both factored into the final price?
– ptrcao
2 days ago
I have to correct my equations. From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{0.9cdot textrm{ sales price}= textrm{ sales price-taxes}}$ and $color{blue}{0.88cdot textrm{ sales price=} textrm{ sales price - fee}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
add a comment |
A little more context would help us to understand your problem. How much is the fee, tax rate, etc, for instance? The two equations are contradictory.
– callculus
2 days ago
1
From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price}=1.1cdot textrm{ (sales price-taxes)}}$ and $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price=} 1.12 cdot textrm{ (sales price - fee)}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
But how do we formulate one single equation in which taxes and fees are both factored into the final price?
– ptrcao
2 days ago
I have to correct my equations. From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{0.9cdot textrm{ sales price}= textrm{ sales price-taxes}}$ and $color{blue}{0.88cdot textrm{ sales price=} textrm{ sales price - fee}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
A little more context would help us to understand your problem. How much is the fee, tax rate, etc, for instance? The two equations are contradictory.
– callculus
2 days ago
A little more context would help us to understand your problem. How much is the fee, tax rate, etc, for instance? The two equations are contradictory.
– callculus
2 days ago
1
1
From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price}=1.1cdot textrm{ (sales price-taxes)}}$ and $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price=} 1.12 cdot textrm{ (sales price - fee)}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price}=1.1cdot textrm{ (sales price-taxes)}}$ and $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price=} 1.12 cdot textrm{ (sales price - fee)}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
But how do we formulate one single equation in which taxes and fees are both factored into the final price?
– ptrcao
2 days ago
But how do we formulate one single equation in which taxes and fees are both factored into the final price?
– ptrcao
2 days ago
I have to correct my equations. From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{0.9cdot textrm{ sales price}= textrm{ sales price-taxes}}$ and $color{blue}{0.88cdot textrm{ sales price=} textrm{ sales price - fee}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
I have to correct my equations. From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{0.9cdot textrm{ sales price}= textrm{ sales price-taxes}}$ and $color{blue}{0.88cdot textrm{ sales price=} textrm{ sales price - fee}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
I think you have the wrong equations, if I understand the problem correctly. Let $P$ be the net sales price (before adjustment) and $G$ be the gross sales price. Let $T$ be the tax, and $F$ be the fee. Then we have $$begin{align}G&= P+T+F\
T&=.1G\F&=.12Gend{align}$$
We get
$$G={Pover.78}$$
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
add a comment |
Your two equations are inconsistent. The first implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 1.1
$$
(with the obvious abbreviation for the unknowns).
The second implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 0.88
$$
So there is no exact solution. You can get close with any value of that ratio between $1.1$ and $0.88ldots$.
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
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votes
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oldest
votes
I think you have the wrong equations, if I understand the problem correctly. Let $P$ be the net sales price (before adjustment) and $G$ be the gross sales price. Let $T$ be the tax, and $F$ be the fee. Then we have $$begin{align}G&= P+T+F\
T&=.1G\F&=.12Gend{align}$$
We get
$$G={Pover.78}$$
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
add a comment |
I think you have the wrong equations, if I understand the problem correctly. Let $P$ be the net sales price (before adjustment) and $G$ be the gross sales price. Let $T$ be the tax, and $F$ be the fee. Then we have $$begin{align}G&= P+T+F\
T&=.1G\F&=.12Gend{align}$$
We get
$$G={Pover.78}$$
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
add a comment |
I think you have the wrong equations, if I understand the problem correctly. Let $P$ be the net sales price (before adjustment) and $G$ be the gross sales price. Let $T$ be the tax, and $F$ be the fee. Then we have $$begin{align}G&= P+T+F\
T&=.1G\F&=.12Gend{align}$$
We get
$$G={Pover.78}$$
I think you have the wrong equations, if I understand the problem correctly. Let $P$ be the net sales price (before adjustment) and $G$ be the gross sales price. Let $T$ be the tax, and $F$ be the fee. Then we have $$begin{align}G&= P+T+F\
T&=.1G\F&=.12Gend{align}$$
We get
$$G={Pover.78}$$
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
saulspatzsaulspatz
14k21329
14k21329
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
add a comment |
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
Simple and elegant and offers clarifies the problem.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@ptrcao But your equations still clarify nothing since they are still contradictory. I can only hope that you have understood the topic.
– callculus
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@callculus Yes, I believe I didn't formulate the question properly originally - this is my fault - but this answer does provide me with a workable solution for the real-life situation. I thank you and the answerer.
– ptrcao
2 days ago
add a comment |
Your two equations are inconsistent. The first implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 1.1
$$
(with the obvious abbreviation for the unknowns).
The second implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 0.88
$$
So there is no exact solution. You can get close with any value of that ratio between $1.1$ and $0.88ldots$.
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
add a comment |
Your two equations are inconsistent. The first implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 1.1
$$
(with the obvious abbreviation for the unknowns).
The second implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 0.88
$$
So there is no exact solution. You can get close with any value of that ratio between $1.1$ and $0.88ldots$.
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
add a comment |
Your two equations are inconsistent. The first implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 1.1
$$
(with the obvious abbreviation for the unknowns).
The second implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 0.88
$$
So there is no exact solution. You can get close with any value of that ratio between $1.1$ and $0.88ldots$.
Your two equations are inconsistent. The first implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 1.1
$$
(with the obvious abbreviation for the unknowns).
The second implies that
$$
frac{t}{f} = 0.88
$$
So there is no exact solution. You can get close with any value of that ratio between $1.1$ and $0.88ldots$.
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Ethan BolkerEthan Bolker
41.8k547110
41.8k547110
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
add a comment |
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
Good point. Just a question though - shouldn't $ frac{t}{f} = 0.88 $ in the second instance? (You might have read the fraction the wrong way around.)
– ptrcao
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
@ptrcao: you are correct. That makes the disagreement worse.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
I have fixed my error, just to keep the record straight. @saulsplatz 's answer fills in the missing data.
– Ethan Bolker
2 days ago
add a comment |
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A little more context would help us to understand your problem. How much is the fee, tax rate, etc, for instance? The two equations are contradictory.
– callculus
2 days ago
1
From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price}=1.1cdot textrm{ (sales price-taxes)}}$ and $color{blue}{textrm{ sales price=} 1.12 cdot textrm{ (sales price - fee)}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago
But how do we formulate one single equation in which taxes and fees are both factored into the final price?
– ptrcao
2 days ago
I have to correct my equations. From the additional information you gave we can derive the following two equations: $color{blue}{0.9cdot textrm{ sales price}= textrm{ sales price-taxes}}$ and $color{blue}{0.88cdot textrm{ sales price=} textrm{ sales price - fee}}$. If you know the sales price you can derive the taxes from the first equation and the fee from the second equation.
– callculus
2 days ago