There are 4 weeks in a month so Cathy and Chris were supposed to work for 4 weeks / month x 2 months = 8 weeks each. Since Chris got sick then Chris was only able to work for 8 weeks - 1 week = 7 weeks while Cathy worked for 8 weeks + 1 week = 9 weeks. Therefore, Cathy worked for 9 weeks x 20 hours / week = 180 hours.
The answer: 180
Reverse engineering the question: Cathy and Chris got summer jobs at the cake shop and were supposed to work 20 hours per week each for 2 months. During that time, Chris got sick for one week and Cathy took her shifts. If there are four weeks in a month, how many hours did Cathy work during the 2 months?


Reasoning and answer: Figure out how many sodas Jerry drinks after 1 week by dividing the starting number of sodas by 2: 48 sodas / 2 = 24 sodas. Now repeat the process to figure out how many soda he drinks after 2 weeks: 24 sodas / 2 = 12 sodas. Repeat the process one more time to find the number of sodas after 3 weeks: 12 sodas / 2 = 6 sodas. It takes Jerry 3 weeks to get down to 6 sodas.
The answer: 3
What was the question?
Question: Jerry is trying to cut down on the amount of soda he drinks. Right now, he drinks 48 sodas a week. If he cuts the number of sodas he drinks in half each week, how many weeks will it take him to only drink 6 sodas per week?


One trip to school is 2 * 7 km = 14km. In one week, Christina walks 14 km / day * 5 days / week = 70km to school. The extra trip to her mum's friend added 2 km * 2 = 4km to her travel distance. Her total distance was thus 70 km + 4 km = 74 km.
The answer: 74
Reverse engineering the question: Christina walks 7km to school every day from Monday to Friday. She returns home covering the same distance. Last Friday her mother asked her to pass by her friend, which is another 2km away from the school in the opposite distance from home. How many kilometers did Christina cover that week?


Reasoning and answer: First calculate Nancy's monthly portion of the car insurance by multiplying the total cost by 40%: .4 * $80 = $32. Then multiply the monthly cost by 12 to find the annual cost: $32 * 12 = $384.
The answer: 384
What was the question?
Question: Nancy agreed to pay 40% of the cost of her daughter's car insurance, which costs $80 a month. How much will Nancy pay each year?


His original investment was 15 * 20 = $300. The value of his investment increases by 15 * 2 / 3 = $10 per coin. So each coin was worth 15 + 10 = $25. So he sold 300 / 25 = 12 coins.
The answer: 12
Reverse engineering the question: James buys 20 coins of a cryptocurrency at $15 each. The value of the coins increases by 2/3. He sells coins to recoup his original investment. How many coins did he sell?


At the back of stores, the town has paid for 14 trash cans on the streets * 2 = 28 trash cans. The town has therefore added 14 trash cans on the streets + 28 trash cans at the back of stores = 42 trash cans.
The answer: 42
Reverse engineering the question:
A town is trying to clear litter from its streets. The council pays for adding 14 trash cans to the streets and also pays for adding twice as many trash cans to the back of stores. How many trash cans has the town paid for?