Bridgette and Alex are getting married. Bridgette is inviting 84 guests, and Alex is inviting two thirds of that number of guests. They hired a caterer to make a plated meal for each guest at the wedding reception. The caterer always makes ten extra plates just in case something goes wrong. Each plate of steak and asparagus in garlic butter will have 8 asparagus spears on it. How many asparagus spears will the caterer need in all? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. Alex is inviting 84 * 2 / 3 = 56 guests. Bridgette and Alex’s guests will need 84 + 56 = 140 plates. The caterer makes 10 extra plates, so they will need 140 + 10 = 150 plates. To put 8 asparagus spears on each plate, the caterer will need 150 * 8 = 1200 asparagus spears.. The answer is: 1200.

Susan is picking strawberries. She's trying to fill her basket, but out of every handful of 5 strawberries she can't help but eat one of them herself. If her basket holds 60 strawberries, how many berries will she actually pick before she fills it? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. Out of every 5 berries, she eats 1, so only 5 strawberries - 1 strawberry = 4 strawberries go into the basket for each handful. The basket holds 60 strawberries, so it will take 60 strawberries / 4 strawberries per handful = 15 handfuls to fill the basket. So in total, Susan will pick 60 strawberries + 15 handfuls * 1 strawberry eaten per handful = 75 strawberries.. The answer is: 75.

A book has 8 chapters. Beth has read 2 chapters in 3 hours. If she continues reading at that rate, in how many hours will she be able to finish reading the remaining chapters? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. Beth still needs to read 8 - 2 = 6 chapters. She can read 1 chapter in 3 / 2 = 1.5 hours. Therefore, she will be able to finish reading the remaining chapters in 1.5 x 6 = 9 hours.. The answer is: 9.