This exercise is trying to get you to write an equation
that describes what's going on.
Carissa has $250 today, and she adds $80 to it each month.
In 'm' months from now, she'll have 80m more than $250.
C (for Carissa) = 250 + 80m
Louann has $1230 today, and she takes out $60 each month.
In 'm' months from now, she'll have 60m less than $1230.
L (for Louann) = 1230 - 60m
Carissa has less money today, but it's growing $80 every month.
Louann has more money today, but it's losing $60 every month.
Eventually, they'll both have the same amount.
The question is: When and how much ?
Well, when they both have the same amount, then C = L .
250 + 80m = 1230 - 60m
That's the end of the hard part of this problem ... writing
the equation. The rest is easy, and I'm sure you'd have
no trouble solving it. But since I'm on a roll, and I'm
going to take your 5 points, I might as well keep going:
250 + 80m = 1230 - 60m
Subtract 250 from each side: 80m = 980 - 60m
Add 60m to each side: 140m = 980
Divide each side by 140 : m = 7
This is telling us that after 7 months, Carissa and Louann will both
have the same amount of money in their accounts.
The problem also asks us how much that is. So let's find the
amount for both of them, just to check our work and make sure
they're both the same:
Carissa: 250 today + (7 months x $80/month) = 250+560 = $810 .
Louann: 1230 today - (7 months x $60/month) = 1230-420 = $810
yay !