Reasoning and answer: Steve weighs 110 - 8 = 102 pounds. Stan weighs 102 + 5 = 107 pounds. Their total weight is 102 + 107 + 110 = 319 pounds.
The answer: 319
What was the question?
Question: Stan weighs 5 more pounds than Steve. Steve is eight pounds lighter than Jim. If Jim weighs 110 pounds and the three of them crowd onto a scale at the same time, what is their total weight?


In Colbert’s storage, there are 200 wooden planks / 4 = 50 wooden planks. From his parents, there are 200 wooden planks / 2 = 100 wooden planks. So in total, Colbert has not had to buy 50 wooden planks from storage + 100 wooden planks from his parents + 20 wooden planks from his friends = 170 wooden planks. He therefore still needs to buy 200 needed wooden planks – 170 owned wooden planks = 30 wooden planks.
The answer: 30
Reverse engineering the question: Colbert is building a treehouse out of wooden planks. The treehouse needs 200 wooden planks. A quarter of these planks come from Colbert’s storage, half of these planks come from Colbert’s parents, 20 planks come from Colbert’s friends and he buys the rest from the store. How many planks of wood does he need to buy from the store to finish his treehouse?


Reasoning and answer: Josh works 8 hours / day * 5 days / week * 4 weeks / month = 160 hours a month. He earns 160 hours / month * $9 / month = $1440 per month. Carl works less because he is an intern: 6 hours / day * 5 days / week * 4 weeks / month = 120 hours per month. Carl earns 120 hours * $4.5 / hour = $540 per month. The company pays for the 2 together: $1440 + $540 = $1980.
The answer: 1980
What was the question?
Question: Josh works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month. Carl is an intern and works 2 hours less than Josh every day. Josh gets $9 an hour and Carl, half that. How much does the company pay for the 2 together in one month?


24 gallons in minus 4 gallons out is 24 - 4 = 20 gallons per second. 260 gallons divided by 20 gallons per second 260 / 20 = 13 seconds.
The answer: 13
Reverse engineering the question: 24 gallons per second of water flows down a waterfall. If you have an empty basin that can hold 260 gallons of water. The basin leaks water at 4 gallons per second. how long would it take to fill the basin with water from the waterfall in seconds?


Reasoning and answer: Billy took some candies and got more from his father for a total of 6 + 8 = 14 candies. Caleb has a total of 11 + 11 = 22 candies. Their father gave out 8 + 11 = 19 candies from a pack of 36. He gave the rest which is 36 - 19 = 17 candies to Andy. Andy has a total of 9 + 17 = 26 candies. Andy has 26 - 22 = 4 more candies than Caleb.
The answer: 4
What was the question?
Question: Caleb, Andy and Billy went on a picnic with their father. Billy took 6 candies with him, Caleb took 11 and Andy left with 9. On the way, their father bought a packet of 36 candies. He gave 8 candies to Billy, 11 to Caleb and the rest to Andy. How many more candies does Andy now have than Caleb?


Reasoning and answer: At the end of his first week, Brian now has doubled his initial time of 10 seconds to 10 * 2 = 20 seconds. At the end of his second week, Brian doubled the previous week's time of 20 seconds to 20 * 2 = 40 seconds. At the end of his third week of practice, Brian adds another 50% of 40 seconds to his time so 40 * .5 = 20 seconds added. Having added 20 seconds to his time from his second week, Brian can now hold his breath for 40 + 20 = 60 seconds.
The answer: 60
What was the question?
Question:
Brian can only hold his breath underwater for 10 seconds. He wants to get better, so he starts practicing. After a week, he's doubled the amount of time he can do it. After another week, he's doubled it again from the previous week. The final week, he's increased it by 50% from the previous week. How long can Brian hold his breath for now?