Kevin is taking a 600-mile trip, traveling at a rate of 50 miles per hour. How much faster must he travel to decrease his travel time by 4 hours? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. First find his current travel time 600 miles / 50 miles per hour = 12 hours. 12 hours - 4 hours = 8 hours desired travel time. 600 miles / 8 hours = 75 miles per hour. 75 miles per hour - 50 miles per hour = 25 miles per hour faster.. The answer is: 25.

Grandma wants to order 5 personalized backpacks for each of her grandchildren's first days of school. The backpacks are 20% off of $20.00 and having their names monogrammed on the back pack will cost $12.00 each. How much will the backpacks cost? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. She needs 5 backpacks that are $20.00 each so that's 5 * 20 = $100.00. The backpacks are currently 20% off so that's 100 * .20 = $20.00 off. The backpacks costs $100.00 but are $20.00 off so they will cost $100 - $20 = $80.00. She wants each of the 5 backpacks to have her grandchild's name monogramed on them which costs $12.00 each so that's 5 * $12 = $60.00. The backpacks cost $80.00 and the monogramming costs $60.00 so together they will cost $80 + $60 = $140.00.. The answer is: 140.

Jason is climbing a telephone pole next to a tree his friend Matt is climbing. Matt can climb 6 feet/minute and Jason can climb 12 feet per minute. After 7 minutes, how much higher will Jason be than Matt? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. First find the distance Matt climbs in 7 minutes: 6 feet / minute * 7 minutes = 42 feet. Then find the distance Jason climbs in 7 minutes: 12 feet / minute * 7 minutes = 84 feet. Then subtract the distance Matt climbs from the distance Jason climbs to find the difference: 84 feet - 42 feet = 42 feet.. The answer is: 42.