20. A lottery winner must decide between two methods of payment. Choice one is to receive a lump sum of $100,000,000. Choice two is to begin with one cent on day 1, three cents on day 2, nine cents on day three, and so on until the end of 22 days. Which choice should the lottery winner select? Using complete sentences, explain the procedure taken to answer this question.

Question

20.  A lottery winner must decide between two methods of payment. Choice one is to receive a lump sum of $100,000,000. Choice two is to begin with one cent on day 1, three cents on day 2, nine cents on day three, and so on until the end of 22 days. Which choice should the lottery winner select? Using complete sentences, explain the procedure taken to answer this question.

anonymous · Answer

pick the second one, you will make a pile of money

anonymous · Answer

the number of pennies you will get is $$1+3+3^2+3^3+3^4+...+3^{21}$$ and you can add this up via $$\frac{3^{22}-1}{3-1}$$ http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%283^22-1%29%2F2

anonymous · Answer

it is this many pennies
15690529804
so this many dollars 
$156,905,298.04

anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much!

anonymous · Answer

yw