Dream job

AFTER losing the race for the office of the President of the USA, Al Gore is searching for a job. Bush Junior has ensured that he does not get one that pays well. Good luck finds Gore somehow, but now he has a choice between two jobs. Each offers a starting salary of $ 1,800 per year, but the first offer includes an annual raise of $ 200. The second offer includes a semi-annual raise of $ 50.

travelled west, and stopped for a night in Bucharest. To count myself to sleep, I took all digits from 1 to 9, and placed signs in between to make a ton every time. If you love games of mind, how many similar series can you find?

"Which job would you take now?" asks a friend (It is rare for former heads or vice-heads of states to have friends, but let us assume that he still has one). "I think that the answer is obvious," says Gore, "a raise of $ 200 per year is always better than a raise of only $ 100 per year."

"I was thinking otherwise," says his friend, "but, to test my hypothesis, let us do a little arithmetic and write down what each job offers in successive six-month periods."

The first job will pay $ 900, $ 900, $ 1000, $ 1000, $ 1100, $ 1100, $ 1200, $ 1200 and so on. The second job includes a semi-annual increase of $ 50, so, it will pay $ 900, $ 950, $ 1000, $ 1050, $ 1100, $ 1150, $ 1200, $ 1250 and so on in successive six-month periods.

"It is clear from this comparison that the second job brings a better return in the second half of each year and pays as well as the first job in the first half. Take the second job Gore boy," the friend says. "Great arithmetic pal, I wonder why I didn’t see that before. I still can’t believe that it can be true."

"Why! it is rather easy to understand. The semi-annual increase of $ 50 means that the salary in the second job will be $ 50 more for six months or $ 100 more for the year. This is because the recipient will get $ 50 more for each of the six-month periods. Hence two such increases per year amount to an increase at the rate of $ 200 per year. So far, the two jobs seem equally good. However, if you take the second job, you begin getting raises after the first six months, whereas, on if you take the first job, you do not get a raise until the year has elapsed. The second job will pay more in the latter six months of each year. If you want, you can count it again."

"Another recount!" says Gore. "Yes," says the friend, "that too, by hand. I know that you like it."

The boss, who is feeling good today, calls for Gore. "Now, Al dear, because you did me a favour when you were in the office, I have decided to raise your salary by $ 100 every year. Beginning from today, for the whole year, you will be paid weekly at a rate of $ 600 a year. Next year, you will be paid at a rate of $ 700 a year, and $ 800 the next year, and so on. It means a raise of $ 100 per year for you."

"Thank you Sir, you are so kind," says Gore, "but don’t give me a raise so suddenly as it may alarm the man in the Oval Office. Start giving me the salary from today at a rate of $ 600 a year, but at the end of six months, raise the yearly salary by $ 25. Continue to give me a $ 25 yearly raise every six months,"

The boss smiles. Your are so good, I accept the amendment that you have proposed." "Thanks boss," says Gore and leaves. "Fool!" he whispers after closing the door. "Fool!" says the boss, with a twinkle in his eyes, as soon as the door shuts. Has the boss made a wise move by accepting Gore’s proposition or is Gore a loser once again?

— Aditya Rishi