Question: Sara builds a birdhouse that is 1 foot wide, 2 feet tall and 2 feet deep. Jake builds a birdhouse that is 16 inches wide, 20 inches tall and 18 inches deep. What is the difference in volume between the two birdhouses?
Answer with step-by-step thinking: To compare volumes, the measurements must be in the same units. There are 12 inches in 1 ft, so Sara's birdhouse is 1 ft x 12 inches / ft = 12 inches wide, 2 ft x 12 inches / ft = 24 inches tall, and 2 ft x 12 inches / ft = 24 inches deep. The volume of Sara's birdhouse is 12 inches x 24 inches x 24 inches = 6,912 cubic inches. The volume of Jake's birdhouse is 16 inches x 20 inches x 18 inches = 5,760 cubic inches. The difference between the two birdhouses is 6,912 cubic inches 5,760 cubic inches = 1,152 cubic inches.
So the answer is 1152.

Question: One of the clubs at Georgia's school was selling carnations for a fundraising event. A carnation costs $0.50. They also had a special where you could buy one dozen carnations for $4.00. If Georgia sent a dozen carnations to each of her 5 teachers and bought one carnation for each of her 14 friends, how much money would she spend?
Answer with step-by-step thinking: She wants to send a dozen carnations that cost $4 / dz to each of her 5 teachers, so 4 * 5 = $20. She has 14 friends and she knows a dozen carnations is cheaper than buying 12 single carnations. So 14 - 12 = 2 single carnations are needed. A single carnation cost $0.50 so 2 * .50 = $1.00. All total she will spend 20 + 4 + 1 = $25.00 on carnations.
So the answer is 25.

Question: Agnes is 25 years old and her daughter, Jane is 6 years old. In how many years will Agnes be twice as old as Jane?
Answer with step-by-step thinking:
Let the number of years after which Agnes will be twice as old as Jane be x. After x years, 25 + x = 2(6 + x). Solving the equation by expanding and collecting like terms gives: x - 2x = 12 - 25. Further solving gives: - x = - 13. Multiplying both sides by - 1 gives x = 13.
So the answer is 13.