Math Help - Trick question?

The president of a club retired in December 2000 after serving 9 consecutive complete terms. A complete term lasts two years, from the beginning of January through the end of December of the following year. In what year did the president begin serving these 9 terms?

How do they get 1983??

Term 1 started January 1983 and ended December 1984.
Term 2 started January 1985 and ended December 1986
Term 3; January 1987 - December 1988
Term 4; January 1989 - December 1990
Term 5; January 1991 - December 1992
Term 6; January 1993 - December 1994
Term 7; January 1995 - December 1996
Term 8; January 1997 - December 1998
Term 9; January 1999 - December 2000
Retirement.

Where's the trick?

Originally Posted by donnagirl

The president of a club retired in December 2000 after serving 9 consecutive complete terms. A complete term lasts two years, from the beginning of January through the end of December of the following year. In what year did the president begin serving these 9 terms?

How do they get 1983??

2000 - 18 = 1982 ... the prior term ended in Dec 1982, the first new term started in Jan 1983.