Several birds were sitting in the branches of a crape myrtle tree. There were three times more cardinals than bluebirds, but half as many swallows as bluebirds. If there were 2 swallows, what is the total number of birds in the crape myrtle tree? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. With half as many swallows as bluebirds, there are 2 * 2 = 4 bluebirds. With three times more cardinals than bluebirds, there are 3 * 4 = 12 cardinals,. If there were 2 swallows, then the total number of birds in the crape myrtle tree is 2 + 4 + 12 = 18 birds.. The answer is: 18.

Dan's skateboarding helmet has ten more craters than Daniel's ski helmet. Rin's snorkel helmet has 15 more craters than Dan's and Daniel's helmets combined. If Rin's helmet has 75 craters, how many craters are in Dan's helmet? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. If Rin's snorkel helmet has 75 craters, then Dan's and Daniel's helmets combined have 75 - 15 = 60 craters. Let's assume Dan's helmet has C craters. Since Dan's skateboarding helmet has ten more craters than Daniel's ski helmet, the total number of craters their helmets have is C + (C - 10) = 60. 2C = 60 + 10. The total number of craters that Dan's helmet has is C = 70 / 2. Dan's skateboarding helmet has 35 craters.. The answer is: 35.

Louise is baking cakes for a gathering. She needs 60 cakes in total, and has already produced half this many. Today, she calculates how many cakes she has left to make and bakes half this amount. The next day, she again calculates how many cakes she has left to make and bakes a third of this amount. How many more cakes does Louise need to bake? Give the rationale and then the answer.
Let's think step by step. Louise has already produced 60 cakes / 2 = 30 cakes. After calculating how many cakes are left, she bakes another 30 cakes / 2 = 15 cakes. The next day, she calculates again then bakes another 15 cakes / 3 = 5 cakes. She therefore still needs to bake 60 – 30 – 15 – 5 = 10 cakes.. The answer is: 10.