Question

Question #f63a5

Answer 1

`12` comic books.

Explanation:

Start by setting this up as an equation:

We know that he ends up with 12, so we can write

`"stuff"=12`
The trickier part comes in when we want to know what that `"stuff"` is.
He starts with `x` comic books, and then sells half of them so he now has `1/2` as many, or `1/2 x`. After he halves them, he gains 6 more comic books, which brings us up to `1/2 x+6`.

We know that `1/2 x+6` results in `12`, so we can write the equation as:

`1/2 x+6=12`

Now, we solve for `x`.

Start with PEMDAS (parenthases, exponents, multiplication/division, addition/subtraction) and isolate `x` in the reverse order of operations. So, start with addition/subtraction.

Subtract `6` from both sides to get:

`1/2 x cancel(+6-6)=12-6`
or
`1/2 x = 6`

Now, we want to get rid of the fraction, so we need to multiply both sides by `2/1`, because inverse (reciprocal) fractions cancel:

`cancel(2/1 * 1/2) x=6*2/1`
or
`x=12`

Strangely enough, he started and ended with the same amount!