The second earthquake caused 2 * 4 = 8 buildings to collapse. The third earthquake caused 2 * 8 = 16 buildings to collapse. The fourth earthquake caused 16 * 2 = 32 buildings to collapse. Including the first earthquake, the earthquakes caused 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 = 60 buildings to collapse.
The answer: 60
Reverse engineering the question: An earthquake caused four buildings to collapse. Experts predicted that each following earthquake would have double the number of collapsing buildings as the previous one, since each one would make the foundations less stable. After three more earthquakes, how many buildings had collapsed including those from the first earthquake?


Reasoning and answer: He has 10 pairs of shoes and each pair is made of 2 individual shoes for a total of 10 * 2 = 20 shoes. He has already polished 45% of the 20 individual shoes so he has polished .45 * 20 = 9 shoes. He has 20 shoes and has already polished 9 shoes so he has 20 - 9 = 11 more shoes to polish.
The answer: 11
What was the question?
Question: Austin has 10 pairs of dress shoes he needs to polish over the weekend. If he has polished 45% of individual shoes, how many more shoes does he need to polish?


If the number of pythons is three times the number of boa constrictors, then there are 3 * 40 = 120 pythons. Together, the number of pythons and boa constrictors is 120 + 40 = 160. If there are 200 snakes in the park, the number of rattlesnakes is 200 - 160 = 40.
The answer: 40
Reverse engineering the question: There are 200 snakes in a park. There are three times as many pythons as boa constrictors. If there 40 boa constrictors and the rest of the snakes are rattlesnakes, calculate the total number of rattlesnakes in the park.


Reasoning and answer: Hayden gave 3 groups rides, so he is owed 3 * 5 = $15. He drove for 8 hours, so he is owed 15 * 8 = $120. He refilled the gas tank, so he is owed back 17 * 3 = $51. He got two good reviews for a bonus of 2 * 20 = $40. Hayden is owned 15 + 120 + 51 + 40 = $226 for his work today.
The answer: 226
What was the question?
Question: Hayden works for a limousine company as a driver. He gets reimbursed for any gas he puts in the limo, his hourly wage is $15, and he gets paid an additional $5 for every ride he gives. A positive review from a rider in his limo also gets him a $20 bonus. Today, he gave rides to three groups, drove for eight hours, and had to put 17 gallons of gas at $3 per gallon in the limo to refill the tank. He got two good reviews. How many dollars is he owed for his work today?


The cost of the apples was $12 / 2 = $6. When the cost of 3 kg of apples was $6, then the cost of 1 kg of apples was $6 / 3 kg = $2 / kg.
The answer: 2
Reverse engineering the question: Betty bought 1 kg of oranges and 3 kg of apples. The total cost of oranges was $12. The apples were two times cheaper than the oranges. How much did Betty pay for 1 kg of apples?


He pays for 20 / 2 = 10 pounds of steaks. That cost 10 * 15 = $150.
The answer: 150
Reverse engineering the question:
James buys steaks for buy one get one free. The price is $15 per pound and he buys 20 pounds. How much did he pay for the steaks?