SOLUTION: I don't know how to solve this equation. Jill sold half of her comic books and then bought 16 more. She now has 36. With how many did she began?

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: I don't know how to solve this equation. Jill sold half of her comic books and then bought 16 more. She now has 36. With how many did she began?      Log On


   

Question 661362: I don't know how to solve this equation.
Jill sold half of her comic books and then bought 16 more. She now has 36. With how many did she began?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +x+ = the number of comics she started with
She sold half, so then she had half left, or +x%2F2+
Then she bought +16+, and she had +x%2F2+%2B+16+
You are given that
+x%2F2+%2B+16+=+36+
Now multiply both sides by +2+
+x+%2B+32+=+72+
+x+=+72+-+32+
+x+=+40+
She started with 40 comics
check:
She sold half and had 20 left
Then she added 16 making 36 comics
OK