<p>I made a screenshot of the question, since typing the problem and explanation is time consuming: <a href="http://i42.tinypic.com/4re2xu.png%5B/url%5D">http://i42.tinypic.com/4re2xu.png</a></p>
<p>I also uploaded it on photobucket: <a href="http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/OceanSeal/ask1.png%5B/url%5D">http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/OceanSeal/ask1.png</a></p>
<p>My question is in the red box. </p>
<p>Background info of the problem:
Arithmetic equation is a(n)= a1 + d(n-1) , where a1 equals to the first term in the sequence, d equals the difference between two consecutive elements in the set, and n represents the number place in the set (fourth number, fifth number, etc.)</p>
<p>Alright, say our initial value is a<em>1. Then after five days, we’ve added money 5 times, so we should be on a</em>6 (after all, when we add money zero times, we’re still on a<em>1). Then, by your formula, a</em>6 = a_1 + 5d.</p>
<p>You would be right if they said something along the lines of “on the beginning of the fifth day”, before adding the money for that day, but “in 5 days” implies 5 payments.</p>
<p>Don’t stick too much to your formulas; just use your common sense!</p>
<p>Why not just set this up as 2 linear equations.
Joaquin = 6x + 45
Marcy = 4x + 93
They will have the same amount when 6x + 45 = 4x + 93
Solve for x to get x= 24 and since Joaquin adds more each day, the very next day, the 25th, is the first day Joaquin has more</p>
