Paul got a box of 18 crayons and 46 erasers for his birthday. At the end of the school year he only had 2 left while not having lost a single erasers. How many crayons had been lost or given away?
Paul got a box of 18 crayons and 46 erasers for his birthday. 

At the end of the school year he only had 2 left while not having lost a single erasers. 

How many crayons had been lost or given away?

We know that Paul had 18 crayons at the beginning of the school year, and he has 2 crayons left at the end of the school year. This means that he has given away or lost 16 crayons.