document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=799605>Question 799605</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have a word problem that I'm trying to help my child with.  I have the answer, but can't visualize how to get to it.  I need help please.  Here goes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stu had quite a collection of baseball cards.  One day he decided to give half of them to his brother Seth.  Then he gave one-third of what he had left to a friend.  Then he gave half of what was left to another friend.  Stu now has 50 baseball cards.  How many did he start with?  It seems that I should work backwards, but I'll be darned if I can figure out how.  The answer is 300.  This is a math enrichment problem in his homeschool co-op binder from Evan-Moor 6th grade.  Any help would be appreciated as to how to do and explain why we are doing what we are doing.  Lisa T. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #482716 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><B>mananth(16946)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=mananth><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=482716\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Stu had quite a collection of baseball cards.  One day he decided to give half of them to his brother Seth.  Then he gave one-third of what he had left to a friend.  Then he gave half of what was left to another friend.  Stu now has 50 baseball cards.  How many did he start with?  It seems that I should work \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "let Stu have x cards\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "he gave half to seth<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so he had x/2 cards\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "He had x/2 he gave 1/3 of x/2 to a friend \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "=x/6.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now he had x/2 - x/6 = x/3 with him balance\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1/2 of x/3 he gave to another friend =x/6 \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Balance he had was x/3 - x/6 = x/6\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x/6 = 50\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "multiply by 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x= 300  </SPAN>\n" );
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