Reasoning and answer: Nora has saved 5 * 6 = 30 dollars. This means that Tamara has saved 30 / 3 = 10 dollars. All together, they have saved 30 + 10 + 6 = 46 dollars. If they pay off the debt they will remain with 46 - 40 = 6 dollars. Dividing the remaining money equally will give each girl 6 / 3 = 2 dollars.
The answer: 2
What was the question?
Question: Tamara, Nora, and Lulu have been saving to pay off a $40 debt. So far, Nora has saved five times what Lulu has, but three times Tamara’s savings. Lulu has saved $6. If they pay off the debt and divide the remaining money equally, how many dollars will each girl get?


If a monkey swings 1.2 meters a second then a monkey can swing 1.2 meters / second * 60 seconds / minute = 72 meters in a minute. If a monkey swings 72 meters in a minute then a monkey can swing 72 meters / min * 30 minutes = 2,160 meters in 30 minutes.
The answer: 2160
Reverse engineering the question: A monkey swings from branch to branch at an average distance of 1.2 meters per second. How far will a monkey swing in meters if it consistently swings from branches for 30 minutes?


Reasoning and answer: First find how long Nicky spent waiting for his number to be called: 4 * 20 minutes + 14 minutes = 94 minutes. Then add the time he spent waiting to take a number: 94 + 20 = 114 minutes.
The answer: 114
What was the question?
Question: Nicky went to the DMV. He spent 20 minutes waiting to take a number, and quadruple that amount of time plus 14 minutes waiting for his number to be called. How long did he wait total?


He spent 3 * .5 = 1.5 years compiling notes. So it took him 3 + 1.5 + .5 = 5 years for everything.
The answer: 5
Reverse engineering the question: John spent 3 years of his life exploring the jungle. He then spent half as much time writing up notes about his travels. It took .5 years to write his book once he was done with the notes. How long did he spend on his book and exploring?


Reasoning and answer: First find the total number of times the cost is halved: 30 years / 10 years / halving = 3 halvings. Then halve the cost once: $1,000,000 / 2 = $500,000. Then halve the cost a second time: $500,000 / 2 = $250,000. Then halve the cost a third time: $250,000 / 2 = $125,000.
The answer: 125000
What was the question?
Question: When Matty was born, the cost of a ticket to Mars was $1,000,000. The cost is halved every 10 years. How much will a ticket cost when Matty is 30?


Reasoning and answer: There will be a total of 1 + 4 = 5 people who will share the muffins. Each of them will have 20 / 5 = 4 muffins.
The answer: 4
What was the question?
Question:
Jessie invited 4 friends over to play. They made muffins for a snack and Jesse wants to divide them equally between herself and her friends. If they made 20 muffins in total, how many will each person have?