The situation can be represented by a linear function, which is represented by the following expression:
[tex]\begin{gathered} y=mx+b \\ \text{Where, } \\ m=\text{slope} \\ b=y-\text{intercept} \end{gathered}[/tex]Since he increased the number of cards by a constant amount each week, that means we have proportionality:
[tex]\begin{gathered} ^{}m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} \\ m=\frac{420-285}{6-3} \\ m=\frac{135}{3}=45 \end{gathered}[/tex]Then, by the slope-point form of the line, we can find the equation and then substitute x=0.
[tex]\begin{gathered} y-y_0=m(x-x_0) \\ y-285=45(x-3) \\ y=45x-135+285 \\ y=45x+150 \end{gathered}[/tex]Substituting, x=0.
[tex]\begin{gathered} y=45(0)+150 \\ y=150 \end{gathered}[/tex]At the beginning of the collection, he has 150 cards.