Question 1209458
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Bob and John had some cards. 
When John gave Bob 32 cards then they would have an equal amount of cards. 
If Bob gave John 161 cards then John would have 4 times as many cards as Bob. How many cards did Bob have. 
My son found that Bob had 289 and two thirds cards. Can someone check this please. 
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<pre>
x = the number of cards Bob had initially.

Then the number of cards John had initially is (x+2*32) = (x+64).


"If Bob gave John 161 cards then John would have 4 times as many cards as Bob. "


In Math form, it means

       Bob had      John had
        after         after
        giving       getting

   4 * (x - 161)  = (x+64)+161.


Simplify and find x

    4x - 644 = x + 225,

    4x - x = 225 + 644,

       3x  =   869

        x  =   869/3 = 289{{{2/3}}}.
</pre>

The answer that your son got is correct, but makes no sense,
since the number of cards must be a non-negative integer number.


It means that the problem, as posted, printed and presented, is HEAVILY DEFECTIVE.



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<U>Comment from student</U> : Hi ikleyn Thank you for confirming the absurd answer. This is straight from the textbook.



<U>My response</U> : Report to the Publishing company or/and to the author, referring to 
the precise textbook name, edition, year of edition, ISBN number,
then the section name, page number and the number of the problem.