First find the total number of tulips in the eyes: 2 eyes * 8 tulips / eye = 16 tulips. Then find the number of tulips in the background: 18 tulips * 9 = 162 tulips. Then add the number of tulips in the eyes, smile, and background to find the total number of tulips: 16 tulips + 162 tulips + 18 tulips = 196 tulips.
The answer: 196
Reverse engineering the question: Anna wants to plant red and yellow tulips in the shape of a smiley face. She needs 8 red tulips for each eye and 18 red tulips for the smile. If she needs 9 times the number of tulips in the smile to make the yellow background of the face, how many tulips does she need total?


Reasoning and answer: Her brother bought 6 / 3 = 2 paperbacks. He bought 4 * 2 = 8 hardbacks. In total he bought 2 + 8 = 10 books.
The answer: 10
What was the question?
Question: At the bookstore, Sarah bought 6 paperback books and 4 hardback books. Her brother bought one-third as many paperback books as Sarah bought, and two times the number of hardback books that she bought. How many books did her brother buy in total?


Erica sees 9 / 3 = 3 butterflies fly away. There are 9 - 3 = 6 butterflies still left in the garden.
The answer: 6
Reverse engineering the question: Erica sees 9 butterflies in the garden. She sees one-third of them fly away. How many butterflies are left in the garden?


Reasoning and answer: First find how many more hawks than crows there are: 60% * 30 crows = 18 crows. Then add that number to the number of crows to find the total number of hawks: 18 crows + 30 crows = 48 crows. Then add the number of crows to the number of hawks to find the total number of birds: 48 crows + 30 crows = 78 crows.
The answer: 78
What was the question?
Question: Janet counts 30 crows on the powerlines and 60% more hawks than crows. How many birds does she count total?


Jessie won 3 times the amount of the 4 awards that Scott won so he won 3 * 4 = 12 awards. The rival athlete won twice the awards as Jessie, who won 12 so he won 2 * 12 = 24 awards.
The answer: 24
Reverse engineering the question: Jessie won 3 times as many athletic awards as his buddy Scott, who won 4 awards. The best athlete at the rival high school won twice as many awards as Jessie. How many awards did the rival win?


Sandi spent 600 / 2 = 300 dollars at the farmer’s market. Gillian spent 300 * 3 + 150 = 1050 dollars at the farmer’s market.
The answer: 1050
Reverse engineering the question:
Sandi had $600. She spent half of it at a farmer’s market. Gillian spent $150 more than three times Sandi's total. What is the total that Gillian spent at the farmer’s market?