SOLUTION: Tony collects football cards. He has 123 cards now. He gave his friend 9 cards. Then he bought 5 more cards. 1. Write an equation to solve. 2. How many cards did he start

Question 1174031: Tony collects football cards. He has 123 cards now. He gave his friend 9 cards. Then he bought 5 more cards.
1. Write an equation to solve.
2. How many cards did he start with?
3. How many cards does he have now?
I believe this problem can be interpreted two different ways.
1. My Way: (123+9)-5=N Teacher: (123-9)+5=N
2. My Way: 132 Teacher: 119
3. My Way: 123 Teacher: 123
The question would thus be vague at best and it is my opinion that my way would actually be more literally correct as the question turns on past tense verbs after stating specifically how many cards he has now.
Kindly advise.
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, josgarithmetic:
Answer by ikleyn(52847) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Looking at your post and into your request, I think that just the first line

"1. Write an equation to solve."

makes no sense.

When the first phrase makes no sense, it just means that the entire "problem" is nonsense.

For me, it is clear from the first glance, that the "problem" was written by a person, who does not care
about an accuracy of what he (or she) writes, from the triple point of view of Math, English and/or basic human logic.

Professional teacher (or peer reviewed textbook) will NEVER formulate a Math problems in this way.

It is not appropriate style.

Only mathematically illiterate person may allow it . . .

Answer by josgarithmetic(39625) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Tony collects football cards. He has 123 cards now. He gave his friend 9 cards. Then he bought 5 more cards.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The description is fit with only one question, which is, how many did he start with? Already given is he has "123 cards now."

He started before "now" with N cards.
---------very simple to solve.
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