Reasoning and answer: Four feet six inches is the same as 4.5 feet tall. If Frank is 0.5 feet taller than Pepe, then he is 4.5 + 0.5 = 5 feet tall. If Larry is one foot taller than Frank, then he is 5 + 1 = 6 feet tall. If Ben is one foot taller than Larry, then he is 6 + 1 = 7 feet tall. If Big Joe is one foot taller than Ben, then he is 7 + 1 = 8 feet tall.
The answer: 8
What was the question?
Question: Big Joe is the tallest player on the basketball team. He is one foot taller than Ben, who is one foot taller than Larry, who is one foot taller than Frank, who is half a foot taller than Pepe. If Pepe is 4 feet six inches tall, how tall is Big Joe, in feet?
First find how much the electrician earns per day: $100 / day * 2 = $200 / day. Then find how much the plumber earns per day: $100 / day * 250% = $250 / day. Then find how much both workers pay together: $100 / day / worker * 2 workers = $200 / day. Then add the cost of each worker to find the total labor cost per day: $200 / day + $250 / day + $200 / day = $650 / day.
The answer: 650
Reverse engineering the question: Jason is hiring two construction workers, one electrician and one plumber. If the construction workers each make $100/day, the electrician makes double what a worker is paid and the plumber makes 250% of a worker's salary, how much are the overall labor costs for one day?
Reasoning and answer: Camille saw 3 x 4 = 12 robins. She also saw 3 x 2 = 6 blue jays. Triple the number of cardinals is 3 x 3 = 9. So, she saw 9 + 1 = 10 sparrows. Therefore, Camille saw 3 + 12 + 6 + 10 = 31 birds.
The answer: 31
What was the question?
Question: Camille saw 3 cardinals and four times as many robins as cardinals while bird watching. She also saw twice as many blue jays as cardinals and 1 more than three times as many sparrows as cardinals. How many birds did Camille see?
Margaret finished all of her laps in 10 minutes * 60 seconds = 600 seconds. Billy's first 5 laps took 2 minutes * 60 seconds = 120 seconds. His next 3 laps took 4 minutes * 60 seconds = 240 seconds. His ninth lap took 1 minute * 60 seconds = 60 seconds. So his first 9 laps took 120 + 240 + 60 = 420 seconds. Billy finished swimming his laps before Margaret so all of his laps took a total of 600 30 = 570 seconds. This means that it took 570 seconds in total swimming time 420 seconds in time spent swimming the first 9 laps = 150 seconds for Billy to swim his final lap.
The answer: 150
Reverse engineering the question: Billy and Margaret are competing with each other to see who can swim 10 laps the fastest. Billy swims his first 5 laps in 2 minutes, swims the next 3 laps in 4 minutes, swims the next lap in 1 minute, then swims his final lap. Margaret finishes swimming all of her laps in 10 minutes. Billy wins the competition by finishing his laps 30 seconds before Margaret does. In seconds, how long did it take Billy to swim his final lap?
Reasoning and answer: First, we have to come up with the balance before her withdrawal. $950 (current) + $250 (withdraw) = $1200. Now since we know that is triple, we divide by 3. $1200 / 3 = $400.
The answer: 400
What was the question?
Question: The balance of Pam's bank account tripled during the year. At the end of the year, Pam withdrew $250. If her current balance is $950, how much did she have in the bank account at the beginning of the year?
Reasoning and answer: After 1 year Jim has gained $80 * 0.15 = $12. Therefore, after 1 year his portfolio has grown to $80 + $12 = $92. He then adds $28 to this total, so his new portfolio total is $92 + $28 = $120 at the beginning of year 2. Next, this total grows by 10%, so he gains $120 * 0.10 = $12 across year 2. Thus, after year 2, his portfolio is worth $120 + $12 = $132.
The answer: 132
What was the question?
Question:
Jim starts with $80 in his investment portfolio. After 1 year it grows by 15%. He then adds another $28 to his portfolio. After 1 more year the combined portfolio grows by 10%. What is his final portfolio worth after 2 years from when he started?