The average number of playing cards Ahmad and George had was 453. The average number of playing cards Ahmad and Howard had was 225. If the ratio of George's playing cards to Howard's playing cards was 5 : 2, find the number of playing cards Ahmad had.
Total number of cards that Ahmad and George had
= 2 x 453
= 906

Total number of cards that Ahmad and Howard had
= 2 x 225
= 450

Number of playing cards George had = 5 u
Number of playing cards Howard had = 2 u

Ahmad's cards + 5 u = 906 --- (1)
Ahmad's cards + 2 u = 450 --- (2)

(1) - (2)
5 u - 2 u = 906 - 450
3 u = 456
1 u = 456 ÷ 3 = 152

Number of playing cards that Howard had
= 2 u
= 2 x 152
= 304

Number of playing cards that Ahmad had
= 450 - 304
= 146

Answer(s): 146