Question: A man used to have 39 cows but last year 25 of them died and he sold 6 of them. This year the number of the cows increased by 24 and the man bought 43 more. His friend gave him 8 cows as a gift. How many cows does the man have now?
Answer: Step-by-step reasoning process: Last year he had 39 cows - 25 cows - 6 cows = 8 cows. This year after the number of the cows has increased he has 8 cows + 24 cows = 32 cows. After he bought more cows he now has 32 cows + 43 cows = 75 cows. After his friend gave him cows he now has 75 cows + 8 cows = 83 cows.
So the answer is 83.

Question: Joan collects rocks. In her collection of rock samples, she had half as many gemstones as minerals yesterday. Today, she went on a rock collecting trip and found 6 more mineral samples. If she has 48 minerals now, how many gemstone samples does she have?
Answer: Step-by-step reasoning process: Yesterday before her rock collecting trip, she had 48 - 6 = 42 mineral samples. She has 1 / 2 the number of gemstones, so she has 42 / 2 = 21 gemstone samples.
So the answer is 21.

Question: Luke pays a school fee. His mother gave him one $50 bill, two $20 bills, and three $10 bills. His father gave him four $50 bills, one $20 bill, and one $10 bill. If his parents gave him the exact amount for the school fee, how much is the school fee?
Answer: Step-by-step reasoning process: Luke's parents gave him 1 + 4 = 5 $50 bills. These $50 bills amount to $50 x 5 = $250. His parents gave him 2 + 1 = 3 $20 bills. These $20 bills amount to $20 x 3 = $60. His parents gave him 3 + 1 = 4 $10 bills. These $10 bills amount to $10 x 4 = $40. Therefore, Luke's school fee is $250 + $60 + $40 = $350.
So the answer is 350.

Question: Randy just turned 12 and started playing the piano. His friend Sheila told him about the 10,000-hour rule which says, after 10,000 hours of practice, you become an expert or master in your field. If Randy wants to become a piano expert before he is 20, how many hours a day will he need to practice if he practices every day, Monday – Friday, and takes two weeks off for vacation each year?
Answer:
Step-by-step reasoning process: Randy has 20 – 12 = 8 years until he is 20. He must practice 10,000 hours / 8 years = 1,250 hours a year to become an expert. There are 52 weeks in a year – 2 weeks of vacation Randy plans to take = 50 weeks of practice for Randy. Randy will practice Monday – Friday, which is 5 days a week, so 50 weeks x 5 days = 250 days of practice each year. Randy will need to practice 1250 hours / 250 days = 5 hours each day.
So the answer is 5.