<PRE><B>Question 1174647</B>
&lt;br&gt;
As one tutor says, the wording of the problem makes the information unclear.&lt;br&gt;
Interpreted one way, as the other tutor did, the problem comes out with a nonsensical answer, with the numbers of each kind of bill not being whole numbers.&lt;br&gt;
The way I read the problem the first time, the problem does have a solution.&lt;br&gt;
The phrase that causes the problem is &quot;... he took another 12 $5 notes from his cash box&quot;.&lt;br&gt;
The other tutor interpreted that as decreasing the number of $5 bills by 12; that is a reasonable interpretation.&lt;br&gt;
The first time I read the problem, I interpreted it to mean he went to his cash box and got 12 MORE $5 bills to add to what he already had.  Also a reasonable interpretation.&lt;br&gt;
The fact that the wording allows two very different reasonable interpretations means the statement of the problem is defective.&lt;br&gt;
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Assuming my interpretation....&lt;br&gt;
x = original number of $1 notes
212-x = original number of $5 notes&lt;br&gt;
(2/3)x = number of $1 notes after he used 1/3 of the original number&lt;br&gt;
(212-x)+12 = number of $5 notes after he added 12 more from his cash box&lt;br&gt;
The number of $5 notes was now 1/4 the number of $1 notes.&lt;br&gt;
{{{(212-x)+12 = (1/4)(2/3)x}}}
{{{224-x = (1/6)x}}}
{{{224 = x+(1/6)x = (7/6)x}}}
{{{x = (6/7)(224) = 6(32) = 192}}}&lt;br&gt;
The original number of $1 notes was 192; the original number of $5 notes was 212-192 = 20.&lt;br&gt;
ANSWER: The original number of $5 notes was 20.</PRE>