John paid $32.16 for groceries. this included 7% sales tax. what was the cost of groceries before the sales tax? a. $2.25 b. $30.06 c. $32.31 d. $459.43

If 32.16 includes the sales taxthen the price before the sales tax will be less then 32.16

that only leaves 2 choices
so lets check them...
7% sales tax on 2.25 = 0.07(2.25) = 0.16so if u spent 2.25 on groceries and added the sales tax of 16 centsthen u would have spent 2.41...thats a long way from 32.16

if u spent 30.06...with 7% sales taxu would spend 30.06 + 0.07(30.06) = 32.16

so the cost of the groceries before the sales tax is 30.06 <==