Question

Melanie sold half of her comic books and then bought 8 more. She now has 16. How many did she begin with?

Answer 1

(x/2)+8=16
isolate x 
(x/2)= 8
double both sides
x=16

Answer 2

Y= 32 (x/2)+8=16 x 8 (x/16) =(x/2)
x=16