Real-Life Math
Most concierges work in hotels, where they need to arrange activities that cost the guest money. That involves basic math. "You have to process charges to a guest's account. You don't have to be an accountant or anything," says Troy Glenn, a hotel concierge.
You are on duty as concierge when Mr. Bob Teller, the famed president of a giant computer software company, needs to check out in a hurry. He has just discovered a major bug in his new computer product. He needs to fly back to his headquarters right away.
After you hang up with the airline, you see a pile of papers with charges that Mr. Teller needs to pay before he leaves the hotel. Since he is at the front desk checking out, you need to calculate the total quickly so that the front desk can charge his credit card. You don't have time to enter the charges in the computer.
That particular day, Mr. Teller ordered flowers for his wife ($85), rented a limousine ($250), used the health facility down the street ($50), shopped in the hotel gift store ($22.50) and ate lunch in the hotel cafe ($25). More recently, he made 4 phone calls at $1.25 each from his room. You also need to add 15 percent tax to the total. How much do you need to charge Mr. Teller?