Terrance Scott deposited a check for $299.45 and a check for $229.52. He received $42.00 in cash. What was his total deposit?

Since we know the amounts of each check, what I find easiest to do is add the amounts from each check to get an amount of $528.97. Once I've done that, I subtract the amount he received, $42.00 from the $528.97 to get a total deposit amount of $486.97