By: Mr. Kanauss Algebra teacher at Monongahela Middle School

 Think to yourself what your dream job would be  It could be any profession you want  It could be working for any person you want  The galaxy is the limit  Write down what your dream job is at the top of your page.  I will be giving you this job for 30 days!!

 You have to decide what payment option you would like for your paycheck: 1. One cent on the first day, two cents on the second day, and double your salary every day thereafter for the thirty days; or 2. Exactly $5,000,000. (That's five million dollars!)

 How many of you are jumping out of your seat for the $5,000,000/mo.?  I would be if I were you!!!  I must be a moron or something  Or am I?!?!?  Let’s find out…

 Let’s look at the first payment option Paycheck with the first option – Week 1 Day No.Pay for the DayTotal pay in $$

 So, for one week of work, you have earned $1.27!!!  If you work a 40 hour week (which is normal work week), how much have you made per hour??  So far, how do you like this payment plan??  Does anyone want to change their mind and go with the $5,000,000/mo.??

 Let’s look at the second week’s pay… Paycheck with the first option – Week 2 Day No.Pay for the DayTotal pay in $$

 So after 2 weeks we are up to $  If you work a 40 hour week (which is normal work week), how much have you made per hour??  Now, how do you like this payment plan??  Does anyone want to change their mind and go with the $5,000,000/mo.??

 Let’s look at the third week’s pay Paycheck with the first option – Week 3 Day No.Pay for the DayTotal pay in $$ , , , , , , , , ,971.51

 So after 3 weeks we are up to $20,  If you work a 40 hour week (which is normal work week), how much have you made per hour??  Now, how do you like this payment plan??  Does anyone want to change their mind and go with the $5,000,000/mo.??

 Let’s see how we are looking after four weeks! Paycheck with the first option – Week 4 Day No.Pay for the DayTotal pay in $$ 2220, , , , , , , , , , , ,342, ,342, ,684,354.55

 So after 4 weeks we are up to $2,684,354.55!!  That’s well over 2 million dollars!!  If you work a 40 hour week (which is normal work week), how much have you made per hour??  Now, how do you like this payment plan??  Does anyone want to change their mind and go with the $5,000,000/mo.??  Guess what?!?! Here’s the good news…

 We still have the last 2 days!! Paycheck with the first option – Last 2 days! Day No.Pay for the DayTotal pay in $$ 292,684, ,368, ,368, ,737,418.23

 In 30 days, it increases from 1 penny to over 10 million dollars. That is absolutely amazing!!  This mathematical relationship is known as an exponential relationship.  Here is the graph!  Equation:  Total Pay = 2 n - 1

 Here is what 1,003,776 pennies ($10,037.76) looks like

 Here is what 10,017,024 pennies ($100,170.24) looks like

 Here is what 100,016,640 pennies ($1,000,166.40) looks like –think of a whale here

 Here’s what 1,000,018,176 pennies ($10,000,181.76) looks like

 10 billion pennies - $100,000,235.52

 One Hundred Billion Pennies - $1,000,000,000.00

 Two Hundred Billion Pennies - $2,000,000,000.00

 One trillion pennies - $10,000,000,000.00

 1.8 trillion pennies 2.6 trillion pennies

 1 quadrillion pennies 1 quintillion pennies