After 1 year Jim has gained $80 * 0.15 = $12. Therefore, after 1 year his portfolio has grown to $80 + $12 = $92. He then adds $28 to this total, so his new portfolio total is $92 + $28 = $120 at the beginning of year 2. Next, this total grows by 10%, so he gains $120 * 0.10 = $12 across year 2. Thus, after year 2, his portfolio is worth $120 + $12 = $132.
The answer: 132
Reverse engineering the question: Jim starts with $80 in his investment portfolio. After 1 year it grows by 15%. He then adds another $28 to his portfolio. After 1 more year the combined portfolio grows by 10%. What is his final portfolio worth after 2 years from when he started?

Valerie has to send a thank you card to each of 3 people, so she has 3 * 1 = 3 thank you cards to mail. She has 2 bills to mail. She has 3 more rebates than bills, so 3 + 2 = 5 mail - in rebates to mail. She has twice as many job applications as rebates, so she has 2 * 5 = 10 applications to mail. She has 3 + 2 + 5 + 10 = 20 pieces of mail to send. The electric bill needs an extra stamp, so she needs 20 + 1 = 21 stamps.
The answer: 21
Reverse engineering the question: Valerie needs to put stamps on the envelopes she is about to mail. She has thank you cards for each of her grandmother, uncle and aunt for the birthday presents they sent. She also has to pay the water bill and the electric bill separately. She wants to send three more mail-in rebates than she does bills and she has twice as many job applications as rebates to mail. How many stamps does she need if everything needs 1 stamp except the electric bill, which needs 2?

Roy is 36 inches tall. Joe is 3 + 36 = 39 inches tall. Sara is 6 + 39 = 45 inches tall.
The answer: 45
Reverse engineering the question: Sara is 6 inches taller than her brother Joe. Joe is 3 inches taller than his friend Roy. If Roy is 36 inches tall, how tall is Sara?

Since 1 dozen is equal to 12, then Samuel has 2 x 12 = 24 doughnuts. While Cathy has 3 x 12 = 36. They both have 24 + 36 = 60 doughnuts together. There are 8 friends + 1 (Samuel) + 1 (Cathy) = 10 that will share the doughnuts. Thus, each of them will get 60 / 10 = 6 doughnuts.
The answer: 6
Reverse engineering the question:
Samuel bought 2 dozen doughnuts and Cathy bought 3 dozen doughnuts. They planned to share the doughnuts evenly with their 8 other friends. How many doughnuts will each of them receive?