Jeff has five pennies and he lost three how many are there now

It's hard to tell from the way the question is written.

- - If he has 5 pennies, then it doesn't matter how many he lost.

He has five of them.

- - If he has 5 pennies after he lost three of them, then there are

eight now, just like there were before, but he only has 5 of them.

- - If he had 5 pennies before he lost three, then there are still

5 pennies, but he only has two of them.