fastest and easiest way to solve this problem?

[spoog74]

Jeff received a 10% increase in his salary in each of the last 3 years. If his present salary is $26,620, what was his starting salary?

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[aqz]

(((x*1.1)*1.1)*1.1 = 26620

x = 20000

 

[deeentist79]

Thanks

 

[free99]

(((x*1.1)*1.1)*1.1 = 26620

x = 20000

With conservation of time in mind, do you think this would be a good question to pull out the handy dandy calculator or one where you look at the answer choices and estimate?

 

[ekephant]

Depends on the answer choices, but I would go with the calculator just to be safe. Practice using the calculator app on your computer using only the mouse.

 

[aqz]

With conservation of time in mind, do you think this would be a good question to pull out the handy dandy calculator or one where you look at the answer choices and estimate?

Time conservation should only apply when:

1) You're able to use the fastest, safest way to arrive at the answer, such as my above method.

2) You can arrive at the answer through simplification of fractions, canceling our variables, etc.

It should NOT apply towards "estimating" the answer. Unless you have 10 seconds left to guess an answer, you should ALWAYS use the calculator if you cannot do the mental math, such as in this case (if anyone can do 26620/(1.1^3) in their head faster than a calculator, you're pretty good). Setting up that equation and getting an answer from the calculator shouldn't take more than 30 seconds.