the term "after" in maths questions + inequality signs

[ceekayx]

I can't think of a specific example right now, but I often make mistakes with inclusive and non-inclusive questions regarding specific days, this mainly occurs in the module of Number Patterns but also occasionally on Matrices. The closest example that I can dig out is the 2006 Numbers Patterns question,  Q1 where it asks for how many fruit remains on the tree at the end of the second day?
and Reading "at the end of second day" I ended up substituting "3" instead of "2", cus this is in alot of cases with questions such as "at the end of 2007" and in fact its asking you "in the beginning of 2008" ,
I'm really confused with what number to use when it comes to questions like these, is their specific keywords to look out for ?

 and also also when coming up with constraints how do you know which way the inequality sign faces when its questions such as "In any one day the number of dogs clipped is at least twice the number of dogs washed?" (Q3  VCAA 2006 Linear Equations)

Thanksss...