Penny buys 4 pairs of socks for $2 x 4 = $8. In total, Penny spent $8 + $7 = $15 on 4 pairs of socks and a hat. Penny has $20 - $15 = $5 left after buying 4 pairs of socks and a hat.
The answer: 5
Reverse engineering the question: Penny has $20. Penny buys 4 pairs of socks for $2 a pair and a hat for $7. How much money does Penny have left?


Reasoning and answer: First we need to find the total amount for the robots. 7 robots * $8.75 per robot = $61.25 in total. Now we need to add in the tax $61.25 for the robots + $7.22 for tax = $68.47 total spent in store. Now to find what was the beginning amount we take the $68.47 total spent in - store + $11.53 in change = $80 to start.
The answer: 80
What was the question?
Question: Austin bought his seven friends each a robot. Each robot costs $8.75. He was charged $7.22 total for tax. He left with $11.53 in change. How much did Austin start with?


Since Paul makes 3 trips per day, and each trip involves going both down and up, this means he travels the full vertical distance of his apartment complex 3 * 2 = 6 times a day. Since there are 7 days in a week, this means he makes this trip 6 * 7 = 42 times a week. Since each story is 10 feet tall, that means with 5 stories he travels 5 * 10 = 50 feet each trip. Since he made 42 trips of 50 feet each, this means he traveled 50 * 42 = 2100 feet in a week.
The answer: 2100
Reverse engineering the question: Paul lives in a 5th story apartment. He makes 3 trips out from and back to his apartment throughout the day each day of a week. How many feet does he travel vertically in total over the week if each story is 10 feet tall?


Reasoning and answer: Each gust blows the leaf forward 5 feet, so 11 gusts will blow it forward 5 * 11 = 55 feet. Each swirl after a gust blows it back 2 feet, so 11 swirls will blow it back 2 * 11 = 22 feet. After 11 gusts, the leaf has traveled 55 - 22 = 33 feet down the sidewalk.
The answer: 33
What was the question?
Question: A leaf is being blown down a sidewalk by swirling gusts of wind. For every five feet that a gust blows it forward, the wind swirls and blows it back two feet. How many feet has it traveled down the sidewalk after 11 gusts of wind?


Since one - third of the class participated, there are 39 * 1 / 3 = 13 students who participated in the competition. This means that 39 – 13 = 26 students did not participate.
The answer: 26
Reverse engineering the question: One-third of a class of 39 students took part in a math competition. How many students did not participate in the competition?


If 1 pair of earrings equals 2 earrings, then Barbie bought 12 * 2 = 24 earrings. Half of 24 earrings is 24 / 2 = 12 earrings. If receiving 12 earrings tripled Alissa's collection, then she now has 12 * 3 = 36 earrings.
The answer: 36
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.
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Barbie enjoys buying jewelry. One day, she bought 12 pairs of earrings, and gave half of them to Alissa, making Alissa's total number of collections to be triple the number of earrings she was given. How many earrings does Alissa have now?