How do i do this trying my best but i can’t t_t

Use algebra.

Let the number of stickers each had in the beginning = x stickers.

Ray lost 10 we represent this by

x - 10 ( = no. stickers he has now)

Tom bought 200 so the number of stickers he now has

= x + 200

Rays has 1/4 as much as Tom so we can now create the equation

1/4(x + 200) = x - 10

Soling for x:-

1/4 x + 50 = x - 10

60 = 3/4 x

x = 60 * 4/3 = 80

Answer they had 80 stickers at first.

17,000 is the correct answer.