Clyde’s tower is 1 / 8 the size of Grace’s tower or 40 inches / 8 = 5 inches tall. Grace’s tower is 40 inches – 5 inches = 35 inches taller than Clyde’s.
The answer: 35
Reverse engineering the question: Clyde and Grace are building block towers. Grace’s tower is 8 times the size of Clyde’s at 40 inches tall. How many inches taller is Grace’s tower than Clyde’s?


Reasoning and answer: Shower gel costs Abraham 4 shower gels * $4 = $16. So the shower gel and toothpaste combined have cost him $16 + $3 = $19. He had money remaining in his budget so the total cost of his shopping must have been $60 – $30 = $30. The box of laundry detergent therefore cost him $30 – $19 = $11.
The answer: 11
What was the question?
Question: Abraham is buying some toiletries and creates a budget of $60 for his shopping. He buys 4 shower gels for $4 each, a tube of toothpaste for $3, and a box of laundry detergent. If he has $30 remaining in his budget, how much money, in dollars, did Abraham spend on the box of laundry detergent?


Alex traveled at 20 miles per hour for 4.5 hours, so 20 * 4.5 = 90 miles on flat ground. He traveled 12 miles per hour uphill for 2.5 hours, so 12 * 2.5 = 30 miles uphill. He traveled downhill 24 miles per hour for 1.5 hours = 24 * 1.5 = 36 miles downhill. Before his tire punctured, he traveled 90 + 30 + 36 = 156 miles. So as the next town is 164 miles from where he began, Alex had to walk for 164 - 156 = 8 miles.
The answer: 8
Reverse engineering the question: Alex is on a cross-country bike trip. After starting this morning, he manages an average speed over flat ground of about 20 miles per hour. Four and a half hours later, the road started to incline upwards enough that he could only manage 12 miles per hour. Two and a half hours later, though, the road declined downhill and was able to mostly coast at 24 miles per hour. Unfortunately, he only got to enjoy this for one and a half hours before he punctured a tire. He had forgotten to pack a repair kit, so he had to walk his bike the rest of the way to the next town. If the next town was 164 miles from where he started this morning, how far did Alex have to walk?


Reasoning and answer: His overtime pay per hour is 30 * 1.5 = $45 per hour. He works 6 * 2 = 12 hours per day for the last two days. He works 6 + 6 + 6 + 12 + 12 = 42 hours. He gets 42 - 40 = 2 hours of overtime. He makes 40 * 30 + 2 * 45 = $1290 for the week.
The answer: 1290
What was the question?
Question: An employee makes 30 dollars an hour for the first 40 hours in the workweek and an additional 50% for every hour above 40 in the week. If he works 6 hours for the first 3 days in the workweek and twice as many hours per day for the remaining 2 days, how much money did he make?


Daniel practices for a total of 15 x 5 = 75 minutes during the school week. He practices 15 x 2 = 30 minutes each day on the weekend. So, he practices a total of 30 x 2 = 60 minutes on the weekend. Thus, Daniel practices for a total of 75 + 60 = 135 minutes during a whole week.
The answer: 135
Reverse engineering the question: Daniel practices basketball for 15 minutes each day during the school week. He practices twice as long each day on the weekend. How many minutes does he practice during a whole week?


The sum of black and white shirts is 63 + 42 = 105. The number of jeans in the store is (2 / 3) x 105 = 70. The sum of ties and belts is 34 + 40 = 74. The number of scarfs in the store is 74 / 2 = 37. There are 70 - 37 = 33 more jeans than scarfs in the store.
The answer: 33
Reverse engineering the question:

Show your work and conclude with the exact phrasing "Therefore, the final answer is [answer]." where [answer] is just the final number or expression that solves the problem.
user
A clothing store has an inventory of 34 ties, 40 belts, 63 black shirts, and 42 white shirts. The number of jeans in the store is two-thirds of the sum of black and white shirts, and the number of scarves is half the number of the sum of ties and belts. How many more jeans are there than scarves?