Distinguishing Final vs. Initial While Using Rydberg Eqn

[Helen T 2G]

I still am a little confused on which energy would be considered the final and which would be the initial when calculating the change in energy for an electron ( delta E = E(final) - E(initial) ). Typically if the problem says light is emitted, does that mean the transition is from a higher to a lower energy level and if energy is required then the transition is from a lower to a higher energy level?

[Chem_Mod]

Change is always final minus initial.

Using the equation for the hydrogen spectrum, you should get a negative value of deltaE when n_f<n_i