Question

Ricardo lost 6 golf balls while playing yesterday. He bought a box of 12 golf balls, then lost 4 on the course today. He now has 18 golf balls. How many golf balls did Ricardo have to start with? What’s the first step to figuring this problem?

Answer 1

Ricardo had to start with 16 golf balls.

Step-by-step explanation

First we will assume that the number of golf balls in starting was
`x`

He lost 6 golf balls while playing yesterday, that means remaining number of the balls
`= x-6`

Today he bought 12 golf balls , so now the number of balls
`= (x-6) +12 = x+6`

Then he lost 4 balls on the course today, so the remaining number of balls
`= (x+6) -4 = x+2`

The question says that he now has 18 golf balls, that means...

`x+2 = 18\\\\ x=18-2\\\\ x= 16`

So, Ricardo had to start with 16 golf balls.