Mathville Puzzles: The New Associate

By -
 

The biggest and most famous attorney firm in Mathville is that of Balinksi & Young, located at 1 Adams Circle in downtown Mathville. Recently they found themselves on the market for a new associate attorney. After interviewing several applicants, Mr. Balinski and Ms. Young decided to hire Ms. Versine Vector, Esq., a graduate of the prestigious Benford Law School. They offered Ms. Vector a choice between two salary programs:

A.      MV$8000 for the first year, and a raise of MV$1000 per year afterwards; OR
B.      MV$4000 for the first six months, and a raise of MV$250 every six months afterward.

Which offer should Ms. Vector take, and why? Explain your reasoning. 
MV$=Mathville dollars.
 

Contest Rules
  • You must send the solution via email to Laura Skinner at lskinner@pvcc.edu.
  • Solution due by Wednesday, April 30th at 11:59 p.m. Solutions sent after the deadline will not be considered.
  • You must email the solution from your PVCC email address.
  • You must explain how you arrived at the solution -- that is, you must show your work, explain your reasoning. 
  • Only correct solutions with explanations of the reasoning used to arrive at the solution will be considered.
  • Three entries will be drawn from all the correct solutions, to determine a first, second and third place.
  • The first place prize will be a $30 gift certificate to the PVCC Bookstore.
  • The second place prize will be a $15 gift certificate to the Mermaid Express coffee cart.
  • The third prize will be a big Hershey’s milk chocolate bar.
  • Drawing will be conducted on Friday, May 2nd. Winners will be notified by email, and their names will be published on a blog post. 
  • The solution to the puzzle will be published on the blog after winners have been announced.
  • Winners must pick up their prizes by Thursday, May 8th at 9 p.m., or they forfeit their prizes. Prizes must be picked up in person. Please present your student I.D.
Would you like another chance to solve a puzzle and win a prize? Check out the puzzle posted outside of Room 160 in the main building by Mu Alpha Theta, the Math Honors Society.