How many minutes is it before 6 p.m. if, 50 minutes ago, four times this number was the number of minutes past 3 p.m.

Question

college algebra word problem

Answer 1

Let x be the number of minutes before 6. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour, there are 180 minutes in 3 hours. So, a time of x minutes before 6 is the same as 180 - x minutes after 3. Now, 50 minutes ago, the time is 50 fewer minutes after 3, so this is 130 - x. Setting this equal to 4 times x yields 130 = 5x and x = 26 minutes. The time is now 5:34 pm. 50 minutes ago it was 4:44 pm which is 104 minutes after 3 pm as required.