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 $800 or tripled, whichever results in the lesser amount. What is the total fine for a resident of that town who originally owed $60,000 in property taxes, but did not pay until October 15th?
Answers.
A) $1,400	B) $2,600	C) $3,400	D) $21,400	E) $22,800
Original amount = 60,000   Fine for July = 60,000 * 1% = 600   Fine for August = lesser of the 2 , 600+800= 1400 or  600*3= 
<gadget id="calculator"> 600*3</gadget>
<output>1_800</output>
1800 . Pick 1400   Fine for September= 1400+600= 
<gadget id="calculator">1400+600</gadget>
<output>2_000</output>
2000 or  1400*3= 
<gadget id="calculator"> 1400*3</gadget>
<output>4_200</output>
4200. Pick 2000   Fine for October= 2000+600= 
<gadget id="calculator">2000+600</gadget>
<output>2_600</output>
2600 or  2000*3= 
<gadget id="calculator"> 2000*3</gadget>
<output>6_000</output>
6000. Pick 2600.   The wording of the question should be have been clearer as total fines should be= 2600+2000+1400+600= 
<gadget id="calculator">2600+2000+1400+600</gadget>
<output>6_600</output>
6600 and NOT 2600.   2600 is the fine ONLY for the month of October!   $2,600
<result>B</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 $800 or tripled, whichever results in the lesser amount. What is the total fine for a resident of that town who originally owed $60,000 in property taxes, but did not pay until October 15th?