For every 3 steps forward, he adds 2 more backwards so each 'step' gained costs 5 actual steps. 66 steps distance * 5 steps moved = 330 steps total.
The answer: 330
Reverse engineering the question: When Jeffrey walks, for every three steps forward, he takes two steps backwards. Therefore, if the distance between the house and the mailbox is 66 steps, what is the total number of steps Jeffrey takes when he goes from the house to the mailbox?


Reasoning and answer: First, add the 4 plants Mark gave away to the 20 he has left: 4 + 20 = 24. Then divide this number by 2 to find how many plants Mark had after two months: 24 / 2 = 12. Then divide that number by 2 to find how many plants Mark had after one month: 12 / 2 = 6. Finally, divide that number by 2 to find out how many plants Mark initially planted: 6 / 2 = 3.
The answer: 3
What was the question?
Question: Mark plants some strawberries in his backyard. Every month, the number of strawberry plants doubles. After 3 months, Mark digs up 4 strawberry plants and gives them to his friend. If he still has 20 strawberry plants, how many did he initially plant?


It takes 10 * 1.5 = 15 hours to fix his shirts. It takes 1.5 * 2 = 3 hours per pair of pants. So it takes 3 * 12 = 36 hours for the pants. That means in total it takes 15 + 36 = 51 hours. So it cost 51 * 30 = $1530 to fix everything.
The answer: 1530
Reverse engineering the question: James hires a seamstress to fix all his shirts and pants. He has 10 shirts and 12 pairs of pants. It takes 1.5 hours to fix a shirt and twice as long for pants. The tailor charges $30 per hour. How much does it cost?


Reasoning and answer: 7 days a week Laura drives 20 miles to school, so Laura drives 7 x 20 = 140 miles to school in one week. The supermarket is 10 miles farther away than the school. Therefore the supermarket is 10 + 10 = 20 miles away from Laura’s house. Laura drives 20 miles each way to and from the supermarket. Each trip is 20 x 2 = 40 miles. Laura drives 40 miles twice a week to visit the supermarket. Therefore she drives 40 x 2 = 80 miles in total a week to and from the supermarket. In total Laura drives 140 + 80 = 220 miles each week.
The answer: 220
What was the question?
Question: Laura’s House is a 20-mile round trip from her school. The supermarket is 10 miles farther away from the school. If Laura drives to school every morning and two afternoons a week drives to the supermarket. How many miles does Laura driver per week?


For babysitting, Jolene raises 4 x $30 = $120. For car washing, she raises 5 x $12 = $60. So far, she has raised $120 + $60 = $180.
The answer: 180
Reverse engineering the question: Jolene wants to raise some money to buy a bicycle. She babysits for 4 families for $30 each. She also washes 5 neighbors’ cars for $12 each. How much did she raise so far?


After giving $5, Lucy has $20 - $5 = $15 left. Since Linda has $15 after receiving $5, then she had $15 - $5 = $10 at the beginning.
The answer: 10
Reverse engineering the question:
If Lucy would give Linda $5, Lucy would have the same amount of money as Linda. If Lucy originally had $20, how much money did Linda have at the beginning?