document.write( "Question 1128070: Would appreciate a simple solution that a 5th grader can understand. Thanks in advance!\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); 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? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #744552 by ikleyn(52866) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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\n" ); document.write( "Ron and Matt both bought postcards during their trip to New Zealand. At the end of the trip, they decided to trade.
\n" ); document.write( "Ron traded half of his postcards for 9 of Matt’s postcards. After that trade, each of them has 21 postcards.
\n" ); document.write( "How many postcards did Ron have before the trade? How many postcards did Matt have before the trade?
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document.write( "Ron gave half of his postcards to Matt and obtained 9 postcards from Matt.\r\n" );
document.write( "As a result, Ron has 21 postcards.\r\n" );
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document.write( "    It means that before obtaining 9 postcards from Matt, Ron had 21-9 = 12 postcards,\r\n" );
document.write( "    and it is HALF of that he had originally.\r\n" );
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document.write( "    Hence, originally Ron had 2*12 = 24 postcards.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Matt obtained half of Ron's postcards, i.e. 24/2 = 12 postcards, but gave to Ron 9 his postcards.\r\n" );
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document.write( "    Thus Matt increases the number of his postcards by (12-9) = 3 postcards, having finally 21 postcards.\r\n" );
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document.write( "    Hence, Matt possessed 21-3 = 18 postcards originally.\r\n" );
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document.write( "ANSWER.  Ron had originally 24 postcards.  \r\n" );
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document.write( "         Matt had originally 18 postcards.\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Can your 5-grader understand it ?\r
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