I have a problem with dry erase markers disappearing from my classroom. A third of my markers were stolen by a student, and then one of my co-workers "borrowed" four markers. After that I realized that half of the remaining markers didn't work, so I threw them away.

In the end, I just had two markers left.

How many did I start with?

Hermie doesn't want to celebrate Christmas on December 25th, so he suggested moving it to a date n days later. Rudolph protested that then Christmas wouldn't happen as often.

Frosty then suggested that the date could be moved n days in the other direction. If Frosty's suggestion was followed, on what day would Christmas fall?

Two more than twice the sum of x and five is equal to twelve less than three times the sum of x and two.

The sum of a number and five more than that number is 47.  What is the number?

If 12 more than a number is added to the number, and three times the number is subtracted, the result is the original number. What is the original number?

Nathan started at the bottom of the stairs and climbed n steps. After that he went down n - 4 steps, and was then 15 steps from the top of the stairs. How many steps are there?

A number, plus 5 more than that number, plus twice the sum of 5 and that number, is 43. What is the number?

Next year, Martha will be three times as old as she was 17 years ago. How old is Martha now?

The height of a building measured in feet is 196 more than its height measured in yards. What is the height of the building in feet?