[Question]: John decides to take up illustration. He draws and colors 10 pictures. It takes him 2 hours to draw each picture and 30% less time to color each picture. How long does he spend on all the pictures?
[Answer]: The coloring takes 2 * .3 = .6 hours less than the drawing. So it takes 2 - .6 = 1.4 hours per picture. So it takes him 2 + 1.4 = 3.4 hours per picture. That means it takes 3.4 * 10 = 34 hours.
So the answer is 34.

[Question]: Kenneth spent 10% of this earnings this week on a new joystick. If he is left with $405, how much were his earnings?
[Answer]: Since Kenneth spent 10%, then he is left with 100% - 10% = 90% of his earnings. Since 90% of his earnings is worth $405, then 1% of his earnings is $405 / 90 = $4.50. Hence, Kenneth's earnings is $4.50 x 100 = $450.
So the answer is 450.

[Question]: Buffy has a sailboat with a planing hull that she sails in the Gulf of Mexico. Under optimal wind conditions, the use of two sails brings the ship to the speed of 50 knots, whereas under the same conditions, the use of one sail brings her ship to the speed of 25 knots. A knot is a nautical term for speed equal to 1 nautical mile per hour, and one nautical mile equals 1.15 land miles. If she travels in her sailboat under optimal wind conditions for 4 hours with one sail and then for another 4 hours with two sails, what is the total distance, in land miles, that she will travel?
[Answer]:
Under optimal wind conditions, if her ship sails 4 hours with 1 sail, she will travel 4 * 25 = 100 nautical miles. Under optimal wind conditions, if her ship sails 4 hours with 2 sails, she will travel 4 * 50 = 200 nautical miles. In total, she will travel 100 + 200 = 300 nautical miles. If 1 nautical mile is equivalent to 1.15 land miles, then Buffy will travel 300 * 1.15 = 345 land miles.
So the answer is 345.