A town in California fines residents who do not pay their property taxes on time. All residents must pay their taxes before July 1st for that calendar year or face the following fine structure: For the first month the taxes are overdue (that would be any payment made on July 1st through July 31st), the total fine is 1% of the original tax bill; for each additional month that the taxes are overdue, the total fine is increased by $600 or tripled, whichever results in the lesser amount. What is the total fine for a resident of that town who originally owed $45,000 in property taxes, but did not pay until October 15th?  Pick: A) $1,400 B) $1,800 C) $2,400 D) $21,400 E) $12,150
Original amount = 20,000   Fine for July = 20,000 * 1% = 450   Fine for August = lesser of the 2 , 450+600= 1050 or  450*3= 
<gadget id="calculator"> 450*3</gadget>
<output>1_350</output>
1350 . Pick 1350   Fine for September= 1350+600= 
<gadget id="calculator">1350+600</gadget>
<output>1_950</output>
1950 or  1350*3= 
<gadget id="calculator"> 1350*3</gadget>
<output>4_050</output>
4050. Pick 4050   Fine for October= 4050+600= 
<gadget id="calculator">4050+600</gadget>
<output>4_650</output>
4650 or  4050*3= 
<gadget id="calculator"> 4050*3</gadget>
<output>12_150</output>
12150. Pick 12150.   The wording of the question should be have been clearer as total fines should be= 12150+4050+1350+450= 
<gadget id="calculator">12150+4050+1350+450</gadget>
<output>18_000</output>
18000 and NOT 12150.   12150 is the fine ONLY for the month of October!   $12,150
<result>E</result>
A town in California fines residents who do not pay their property taxes on time. All residents must pay their taxes before July 1st for that calendar year or face the following fine structure: For the first month the taxes are overdue (that would be any payment made on July 1st through July 31st), the total fine is 1% of the original tax bill; for each additional month that the taxes are overdue, the total fine is increased by $600 or tripled, whichever results in the lesser amount. What is the total fine for a resident of that town who originally owed $45,000 in property taxes, but did not pay until October 15th?