David W. answered • 06/16/15
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My bank takes the day's checks (and other debits) out before putting the day's deposits in. So, if I have a balance of $86 and deposit $100 and they cash a $100 check the same day, I'm overdrawn!
Now, depending on the bank, They may not allow you to withdraw $98 from your account! (they are very good at knowing whether you have sufficient funds for a transaction). Because I'm a good customer (and I requested this service), my bank would put any overdraft (that is, too much debit) on my credit card and charge me a very large monthly interest rate (so I try to know my balance at all times).
If this is a trick question, say, "You can't withdraw $98 if you have a balance of only $85." If they are serious (and your bank is kinder than mine), you could have a negative balance (ouch!) of $86 - $98 = -$12. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number (ignoring the sign), then place a negative sign on the result.
David W.
True story: Back when bank lobby counters had pads of blank deposit slips, someone collected a bunch of these pads. He had his account number pre-printed in magnetic ink characters on them. Then, one morning he casually switched all the bank's pads of blank deposit slips for his, and waited.
He knew, somehow, that the bank ran an accounting run at noon and again in the evening, so he returned in the early afternoon to write a check for "the balance of his account." They cashed it (everyone's hand-written deposits for the morning) and he was gone. During the evening accounting run, they found the error, but could not locate the person.
Today, you won't find blank deposit slips anywhere -- you have to ask a teller (who fills it out for you).
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06/16/15
Mark M.
This is a simple, maybe not simpler, exercise in subtracting a number from a smaller number resulting in a negative number.
86 - 98 = -12.
While it may not be an "authentic" example, it is still not worthy of obfuscation.
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06/16/15
David W.
Oh that textbook authors, teachers, tutors, and test writers would be more practical!
Our students create their view of the world from such problems, and they soon will have bank accounts, checking accounts, credit cards, or (whatever they invent). Problems don't have to be extremely "authentic," but they should help to build that world.
What would the reaction have been to a question like, "You have $86 in your pocket. You take out $98 ...?"
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06/16/15
David W.
I'm suggesting that WyzAnt start a Tutor's Sample Problems Forum so that the various approaches (simple, detailed, obvious, etc.) of WyzAnt tutors may be on display. I think we all would learn a whole lot!
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06/16/15
David W.
Cool !! Such a Forum has already been suggested and WyzAnt is working on it !
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06/16/15
Casey W.
06/16/15