Answer: To find the sales tax rate as a percentage, we can use the following formula:
Sales Tax Rate = (Sales Tax / Cost Before Tax) * 100%
In this case, the sales tax is given as $20, and the cost before tax is $500. Plugging these values into the formula, we have:
Sales Tax Rate = ($20 / $500) * 100%
Simplifying the expression:
Sales Tax Rate = (0.04) * 100%
Sales Tax Rate = 4%
Therefore, the sales tax rate for the item is 4%.
Explanation: