Carmen goes to an auction to win an antique desk. She accepts the opening bid of $200 and continues bidding until she wins. The bids on the desk rise by $50 each time and 3 other people each bid once. Carmen bids after each of the 3 other people and eventually wins. How much money, in dollars, does the desk cost her?
3 other people are bidding on the desk so there are 3 bids * $50 per bid = $
<gadget id="calculator">3*50</gadget>
<output>150</output>
150 added to the cost of the desk by other people.
Carmen also has to bid against each person, so she also adds 3 bids * $50 per bid = $
<gadget id="calculator">3*50</gadget>
<output>150</output>
150 to the overall cost.
So in these bids, there has been a total of $150 + $150 = $
<gadget id="calculator">150+150</gadget>
<output>300</output>
300 added to the initial cost of the desk.
The desk therefore costs $200 opening bid + $300 added cost = $
<gadget id="calculator">200+300</gadget>
<output>500</output>
500.

<result>500</result>