N = original number of comic books
N/2 = number of comic books after he sold half of his collection
N/2 + 16 = number of comic books after he bought 16 more
N/2 + 16 = 36
Solving for N:
[tex]\frac{N}{2}+16\text{ = 36}\Longrightarrow\frac{N}{2}=36-16\text{ = 20 }\Longrightarrow\frac{N}{2}=20\Longrightarrow N\text{ = 20 }\cdot\text{ 2=40}\Longrightarrow\text{ N = 40}[/tex]Answers:
He began with 40 comic books
Equation to represent the problem: N/2 + 16 = 36
