Question

Cate and Elena were playing a card game. The stack of cards in the middle had 24 cards in it to begin with. Cate added 8 cards to the stack. Elena then took 12 from the stack. Finally, Cate took 9 cards from the stack. How many cards were left in the stack.

Answer 1

[(24+8)-12]-9=
32-12-9=
20-9=
11 cards left in the stack

Answer 2

Starting out with 24.

Cate added 8.

24 + 8 = 32

Elena took 12.

32 - 12 = 20

Cate took 9.

20 - 9 = 11

11 are left.