First find the total number of weeks the Bobbit worm preys on the fish: 2 weeks + 1 week = 3 weeks. Then multiply that number by the number of days per week: 3 weeks * 7 days / week = 21 days. Then multiply that number by the number of fish the worm eats per day to find how many fish it eats total: 21 days * 2 fish / day = 42 fish. Then add the number of fish James adds to the starting number of fish to find the ending number of fish: 60 fish + 8 fish = 68 fish. Then subtract the number of eaten fish to find the number of surviving fish: 68 fish - 42 fish = 26 fish.
The answer: 26
Reverse engineering the question: There's a Bobbit worm hiding in the bottom of James' aquarium. Every day it eats 2 fish. After two weeks, James adds 8 more fish to the aquarium. A week later, he discovers the Bobbit worm. If the aquarium had 60 fish to start with, how many does it have when James discovers the Bobbit worm?


Reasoning and answer: It takes Lara 7 minutes and 23 seconds to make it through the obstacle course the first time. 7 minutes x 60 seconds per minute = 420 seconds + 23 seconds = 443 seconds to get through the first part of the obstacle course. The second stage of the obstacle course she completes in 73 seconds + 443 seconds = 516 seconds. It takes 5 minutes and 58 seconds for Lara to get through the obstacle course the second time. 5 minutes x 60 seconds per minute = 300 + 58 seconds = 358 seconds. Combined, it takes Lara 516 + 358 seconds = 874 seconds for Lara to run the whole obstacle course.
The answer: 874
What was the question?
Question: Lara is a contestant on a fun game show where she needs to navigate an inflated bouncy house obstacle course. First she needs to carry a backpack full of treasure through the obstacle course and set it down on the other side, which she does in 7 minutes and 23 seconds. Second, she needs to crank open the door to the obstacle course so she can go back through, which takes her 73 seconds. After she gets through the door she traverses the obstacle course again and makes it out faster without the backpack, in 5 minutes and 58 seconds. How many seconds total does it take her to complete the obstacle course?


He needs 10 * 2 = 20 pounds of noodles. That means he needs to buy 20 - 4 = 16 pounds of noodles. So he needs to buy 16 / 2 = 8 packages.
The answer: 8
Reverse engineering the question: Tom decides to make lasagna with all his beef. It takes twice as many noodles as beef. He has 10 pounds of beef. He already has 4 pounds of lasagna noodles and the noodles come in 2-pound packages. How many packages does he need to buy?


Reasoning and answer: The race is 5.25 miles long because 7 x .75 = 5.25. They ran a mile in 8 minutes because 42 / 5.25 = 8. Last year's winner ran a mile in 9 minutes because 47.25 / 5.25 = 9. They ran 1 minute faster per mile compared to last year's winner.
The answer: 1
What was the question?
Question: The town is having a race to see who can run around the town square 7 times the fastest. The town square is 3/4 of a mile long. The winner finishes the race in 42 minutes. Last year's winner finished in 47.25 minutes. How many minutes on average faster did this year's winner run one mile of the race compared to last year?


If she drives 400 miles today, the car will have consumed 4 * 400 = 1600 gallons of gas. Tomorrow, if she drives 200 more miles, the total distance will be 200 + 400 = 600 miles. The fuel consumption by the car tomorrow is 4 * 600 = 2400 gallons. The car's total fuel consumption in the two days is 2400 + 1600 = 4000 gallons.
The answer: 4000
Reverse engineering the question: Dream's car consumes 4 gallons of gas per mile. If she drives 400 miles today and 200 more miles tomorrow than today, how many gallons of gas will the car consume?


Let X be my age now. In ten years, I'll be X + 10 years old. In ten years, my brother will be (X + 10) * 1 / 2 years old. In ten years, (X + 10) + (X + 10) * 1 / 2 = 45. So (X + 10) * 3 / 2 = 45. X + 10 = 45 * 2 / 3 = 30. X = 30 - 10 = 20 years old.
The answer: 20
Reverse engineering the question:
In ten years, I'll be twice my brother's age. The sum of our ages will then be 45 years old. How old am I now?