What percentage of gross sales was attributed to merchandise if the total sales were $4,000,000 and merchandise sales were $450,000?

To determine the percentage of gross sales attributed to merchandise, you need to divide the total merchandise sales by the total sales and then multiply by 100 to convert it to a percentage.

Here, the total merchandise sales amount to $450,000, and the total sales are $4,000,000.

The calculation would be:

1. Divide merchandise sales by total sales:
   ( \frac{450,000}{4,000,000} = 0.1125 )

2. Convert the decimal to a percentage:
   ( 0.1125 \times 100 = 11.25 % )

This shows that merchandise sales accounted for 11.25% of the total gross sales, thus making this option the correct choice. Understanding this calculation is essential in funeral service merchandising, as it helps identify the contribution of merchandise to overall revenue, which can inform inventory decisions and pricing strategies.