document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1128070>Question 1128070</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Would appreciate a simple solution that a 5th grader can understand. Thanks in advance!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ron and Matt both bought postcards during their trip to New Zealand. At the end of the trip, they decided to trade. Ron traded half of his postcards for 9 of Matt’s postcards. After that trade, each of them has 21 postcards. How many postcards did Ron have before the trade? How many postcards did Matt have before the trade? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #744542 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><B>Boreal(15235)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Boreal><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=Boreal><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=744542\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ron bought r postcards<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Matt bought some other number of postcards, m.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Half of Ron's postcards, or r/2, were given to Matt, who gave 9 to Ron.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ron now has (r/2)+9.  Matt now has m-9+(r/2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Each has 21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so Ron has (r/2)+9=21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "subtract 9 from each side<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(r/2)=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "r=24, multiplying both sides by 2, removing the denominator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Matt has 21=m-9+(r/2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "21=m-9+12, the 12 from above<BR>\n" );
document.write( "21=m+3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m=18 postcards for him\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "24 and 18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ron gave 12 to Matt, leaving him with 12, but he got 9 more, giving him 21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Matt had 18, giving Ron 9 leaving him with 9, but he got 12 more, giving him 21. </SPAN>\n" );
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