Interesting Pay Scale

Interesting Math adventure.

Today, while having lunch with my parents at Litton’s,  Barry Litton (the owner) posed a scenario that I had a hard time wrapping my head around.  It was this:

Barry:  If a man came to your home and said, “I’d like to work in your yard everyday for the next 31 days.  All I ask for is you pay me 1 cent the first day then double it every day after for the next 31 days.” How much do you think you would end up paying?

Me:  No idea… I can’t do that much math in my head.

Barry:  over Ten Million dollars

Me: *gulp*

So, the more I thought about this the more impossible it sounded… I mean, we’re talking about pennies!!  So, here’s the Math.  One employee, 31 days of employment, 1 cent first day, doubling everyday after.

Day 1:  1 cent
Day 2:  2 cents
Day 3:  4 cents
Day 4:  8 cents
Day 5:  16 cents
Day 6:  32 cents
Day 7:  64 cents
Day 8:  128 cents = $1.28
Day 9:  256 cents = $2.56
Day 10: 512 cents = $5.12
Day 11: 1024 cents = $10.24
Day 12: 2048 cents = $20.48
Day 13: 4096 cents = $40.96
Day 14:    8192 cents = $81.92
Day 15:    16384 cents = $163.84
Day 16: 32768 cents = $327.68
Day 17: 65536 cents = $655.36
Day 18: 131072 cents = $1,310.72
Day 19: 262144 cents = $2,621.44
Day 20: 524288 cents = $5,242.88
Day 21: 1048576 cents = $10,485.76
Day 22: 2097152 cents = $20,971.52
Day 23: 4194304 cents = $41,943.04
Day 24: 8388608 cents = $83,886.08
Day 25: 16777216 cents = $167,772.16
Day 26: 33554432 cents = $335,544.32
Day 27: 67108864 cents = $671,088.64
Day 28: 134217728 cents = $1,342,177.28
Day 29: 268435456 cents = $2,684,354.56
Day 30: 536870912 cents = $5,368,709.12
Day 31: 1073741824 cents = $10,737,418.24
——————————————–
Total monthly pay:  $21,474,836.47

Well over 10 million.  So… I guess, this would be a good deal if you could get it!    Anyone need an IT guy for 31 days?? Start cheap!

Makes you think twice about getting rid of the penny now, doesn’t it?  Lunch was still quite good at Litton’s, even though I was distracted by the above math problem.  If you want a good Burger and some interesting math discussions, go see Barry Litton over at Litton’s in Fountain City.

Visit their website: http://www.littonsburgers.com
Follow them on Twitter: @littons

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