Jeff orders a Halloween costume. He has to put in a 10% deposit and then pay the rest when he picks it up. The costume is 40% more expensive than last year's costume, which cost $250. How much did he pay when picking it up, in dollars?
Let's think: It cost 250 * .4 = $100 more than his old costume. So it cost 250 + 100 = $350. He left a 350 * .1 = $35 deposit. So he had to pay 350 - 35 = $315.. The answer is: 315.

Collin learned that he could earn $0.25 per aluminum can that he brought into the recycling center. He found 12 cans at home and three times as many at his grandparents' house.  His neighbor gave him 46. His dad brought home 250 cans from the office. His dad told him he could keep the money from the cans he brought home from the office if he promised to put half of his entire amount collected into savings. How much money would Collin have to put into savings?
Let's think: He found 12 and his grandparents gave him three times that amount so he got 12 * 3 = 36 cans from his grandparents. All total he collected 12 cans, the 36 from his grandparents, 46 from the neighbor and 250 from his dad for a total of 12 + 36 + 46 + 250 = 344 cans. Each can is worth $0.25 so .25 * 344 = $86.00. He agreed to put half of the $86 earned into savings so he will save 86 / 2 = $43.00.. The answer is: 43.

Bill and Joan both work for a library. 5 years ago, Joan had 3 times as much experience as Bill. Now she has twice as much experience as Bill. How many years of experience does Bill have now?
Let's think: Let b be Bill's years of experience and j be Joan's years of experience. We know that j - 5 = 3(b - 5) and j = 2b. Substituting the second equation into the first equation, we get 2b - 5 = 3(b - 5). Multiplying through the parentheses, we get 2b - 5 = 3b - 15. Adding 15 to both sides, we get 2b + 10 = 3b. Subtracting 2b from both sides, we get 10 = b.. The answer is: 10.

Luther made 12 pancakes for breakfast. His family has 8 people. How many more pancakes must he make for everyone to have a second pancake?
Let's think:
In order for everyone to have seconds, Luther must make 8 x 2 = 16 pancakes. Luther must make another 16 - 12 = 4 pancakes.. The answer is: 4.