Pre Algebra Word Problem

Question

Lashonda deposits the same amount of money into a bank account every month. The table below shows the amount of money in the account after different amounts of time. How much money was already in the account when LaShanda started depositing money? Table: 6 months, $423; 8 months, $533; 10 months, $643; 12months, $753.

Answer 1

We know Lashonda has $423 at month 6 and $533 at month 8.

So, in two months, her account has increased by $533 - $423 = $110.

Therefore, if it increased by $110 every 2 months, then it increased by $55 every one month.

We want to find how much she had in her account before she started depositing money.

So, we know at 6 months, she had $423.

We can figure this out in two ways:

Create a Table:

6 months $423

5 months $423 - $55 = $368

4 months $368 - $55 = $313

3 months $313 - $55 = $258

2 months $258 - $55 = $203

1 month $203 - $55 = $148

0 months $148 - $55 = $93

One Equation:

Lashonda made 6($55) = $330 in the first 6 months.

So, we take what she had at 6 months and subtract everything she added in those months.

$423 - $330 = $93

So, Lashonda had $93 in her account before she started depositing money into her account.