Tipping
Total including tip
The tip is added to the bill before any division, so the total is the figure that actually gets split.
The Formula
total = bill + tip
The tip is added to the bill before any division, so the total is the figure that actually gets split.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| bill | The pre-tip bill | currency | The same base used for the tip itself, 240 in the worked case. |
| tip | The gratuity for the whole table | currency | 43.199999999999996 on a 240 bill at eighteen per cent. |
| total | Bill plus tip | currency | 240 plus 43.199999999999996 gives 283.2. |
What Each Symbol Means
billcurrency
The pre-tip bill
The same base used for the tip itself, 240 in the worked case.
tipcurrency
The gratuity for the whole table
43.199999999999996 on a 240 bill at eighteen per cent.
totalcurrency
Bill plus tip
240 plus 43.199999999999996 gives 283.2.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate a split bill page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate A Split Bill, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.