INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Reflect on your strengths. Some people are good at investing, while others may be intimidated by the market or afraid of the risks. Other people are talented artists or writers. Still, others possess a skill or knowledge for which people would be willing to pay. Think about how you can combine your interests and skills to make money. For example, a writer can sell books, a musician can sell songs and a finance buff may be able to clean up in the market. Don't be afraid to try a combination of things. You don't have to stick to one area of expertise. For example, you might earn some income selling e-books, and then turn around and invest some of those earnings. Determine the income level at which you want to live. Think about where you want to live, what living expenses you will have, and how much it will cost to live a lifestyle that will make you happy. This will tell you how much money you need to be earning per year in passive income. Depending on that nature of your passive income revenue stream, you may need to work a certain number of hours per week. For example, you may decide that you need to earn $200,000 per year in residual income to be able to retire and live the way you want. If you are writing and investing to earn that income, you may need to work a few hours each day to maintain your revenue stream. Building reliable streams of residual income requires discipline and commitment. You need to control spending and save as much money as possible to have a nest egg to get you started. Also, you have to promise yourself that you will not spend your savings. Investing as much of your savings as possible and making it harder to liquidate will help you with this. Finally, you must devote time every day, more in the beginning than in later years, to keeping your income stream viable.

SUMMARY: Discover what you're good at. Set a financial goal. Make a commitment.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: ... In this case, since 5 was the 0th term, the formula is an = 5 + 3n. If instead, you wanted 5 to be the first term, you would get an = 2 + 3n.

SUMMARY: Consider an arithmetic sequence such as 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, . Since each term is 3 larger than the previous, it can be expressed as a recurrence as shown. Recognize that any recurrence of the form an = an-1 + d is an arithmetic sequence. Write the closed-form formula for an arithmetic sequence, possibly with unknowns as shown. Solve for any unknowns depending on how the sequence was initialized.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It is key to discuss follow-up tests with your physician following surgical treatment and/or chemotherapy. The purpose of follow-up tests is to look for any possible recurrences of your cancer. The earlier these are detected (if there are any), the more effectively they can be treated; after having had colon cancer once, you are inherently at a heightened risk of having it again, so do not underestimate the importance of these appointments. You will have received a full colonoscopy (an examination of your colon using a tube that is inserted through the anus with a video camera on it) prior to surgery to ensure that all polyps (cancerous lesions) were detected and removed at the time of surgery. You will likely be advised to receive a follow-up colonoscopy at the 1 year mark, and every 3-5 years after that depending upon your risk stratification. Your surgeon will inform you of the schedule for your examinations, and it is important to show up for each of them. You should also see your physician for a physical exam, and to report any suspicious symptoms, every 3-4 months for the first 2-3 years, and every 6 months after that. "CEA" stands for "carcinoembryonic antigen," which is a tumor marker whose variation may signify a possible recurrence of colon cancer. The absolute numerical value of your CEA is in itself not highly important. Rather, it is the variation of this number with time (and particularly the INCREASE of it over time), that indicates suspicion of a possible relapse. Your "CEA" can be measured via a simple blood test. Your doctor will take several measurements of your CEA (with several blood tests performed every few months) to measure how your CEA changes with time. If the number remains steady, you are unlikely to have a recurrence of your colon cancer. If the number continues to rise in significant increments, however, this may indicate a relapse of your colon cancer. Further investigative tests will be needed to check if your cancer has come back. It is also key to follow up with imaging tests. If you had stage II or III colon cancer, a CT scan is recommended annually for 3 years following treatment. This is not necessary for stage I or stage IV colon cancer.

SUMMARY: Receive regular follow-up tests to look for any recurrence of your cancer. Have your "CEA" monitored. Receive a CT scan annually for 3 years following treatment.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: A price guide is a book full of descriptions of specific types of items (antique furniture, baseball cards, stamps, etc.), along with the prices you can expect to get for each item. The best guide to use will depend on the kind of item you want to sell. Kovel's, in particular, is a highly respected publisher of price guides. Many libraries have price guides on their shelves, too. Make sure that your price guide is up-to-date and recent. Because the prices of antiques and collectibles change depending on markets, an outdated price guide will not give you an accurate idea of how much your item is worth. The best price guides will also include plenty of pictures of the items included in its pages. The descriptions and values listed in price guides are general estimates. They cannot account for the wide variations in the quality and condition of specific items, economic conditions, or demand in specific regions.

SUMMARY:
Look for price guides specializing in items like yours. Choose the right price guide. Take pricing from price guides with a grain of salt.