# Can a 'how many minutes' question be solved using algebra?

• Jul 29th 2009, 03:32 AM
Pipps
Can a 'how many minutes' question be solved using algebra?
I am reading a book of sample IQ test questions. One example of which, is the typical 'how many minutes' question.

I can answer the question the long way, but I would be very interested to know if such questions can be solved more elegantly using algebra. I also hope this might provide a chance for brushing up my maths skills!

Allow me to provide an example:

Example question:
'How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago it was twice as many minutes past 9am?'

44 minutes'.
- 12 noon less 44 minutes = 11:16am
- 11:16am less 48 minutes = 10:28am
- 0900am plus 88 minutes (44 x 2) = 10:28 am

My question: Could this question be solved using a neat algebraic method?

What do you think? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you :)
• Jul 29th 2009, 03:41 AM
Unenlightened
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipps
Example question:
'How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago it was twice as many minutes past 9am?'

44 minutes'.
- 12 noon less 44 minutes = 11:16am
- 11:16am less 48 minutes = 10:28am
- 0900am plus 88 minutes (44 x 2) = 10:28 am

M = number of minutes
T = Time now

So T+M = 12 noon.
T - 48 = 9am + 2M.

Let an hour be 60 minutes, so 12 noon = 720, and 9am = 540.
(Changing from one day to the next could be a pain, but let's ignore that... )

So you have T+M = 720
and T - 48 = 540 + 2M.

Two simultaneous equations for you to solve...

Is that something like what you were looking for?
• Jul 29th 2009, 03:46 AM
earboth
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipps
I am reading a book of sample IQ test questions. One example of which, is the typical 'how many minutes' question.

I can answer the question the long way, but I would be very interested to know if such questions can be solved more elegantly using algebra. I also hope this might provide a chance for brushing up my maths skills!

Allow me to provide an example:

Example question:
'How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago it was twice as many minutes past 9am?'

44 minutes'.
- 12 noon less 44 minutes = 11:16am
- 11:16am less 48 minutes = 10:28am
- 0900am plus 88 minutes (44 x 2) = 10:28 am

My question: Could this question be solved using a neat algebraic method?

What do you think? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you :)

Let x denote the time in question, measured in minutes.

Then you have

\$\displaystyle 12\ h-48\ min-x=9\ h+2x\$

\$\displaystyle 3\ h-48 \min = 3x\$ Convert the hours into minutes:

\$\displaystyle 180\ min - 48\ min = 3x\$

\$\displaystyle 132\ min = 3x\$

\$\displaystyle \boxed{44\ min = x}\$
• Jul 30th 2009, 02:39 AM
Pipps
Unenlightened, I was quite sure how to make your suggested formula work.

But Dear Earboth, your suggested formula worked perfectly for me! And it has worked in numerous similar situations since!

But only once I worked out how you got from '12h -x = 9h +2x' to '3h = 3x'.

I got there after a moment's thought, though. It was just that maths skills were a little rusty! (Itwasntme)
The text passage contains a mathematical question and an answer to that question, along with a discussion on how to solve the problem using algebra. The question is about determining the number of minutes before 12 noon, given a specific condition, and the answer provided is 44 minutes.
single_question_with_answer
Given a text passage, determine:
    1. If it contains a mathematical question (including word problems or calculations)
    2. If an answer to that mathematical question is provided in the text

First, describe the content structure you found in 1-2 sentences.

Then provide your analysis in the following format:
TYPE: <one of the following values>
- NO_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS
system
# Can a 'how many minutes' question be solved using algebra?

• Jul 29th 2009, 03:32 AM
Pipps
Can a 'how many minutes' question be solved using algebra?
I am reading a book of sample IQ test questions. One example of which, is the typical 'how many minutes' question.

I can answer the question the long way, but I would be very interested to know if such questions can be solved more elegantly using algebra. I also hope this might provide a chance for brushing up my maths skills!

Allow me to provide an example:

Example question:
'How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago it was twice as many minutes past 9am?'

44 minutes'.
- 12 noon less 44 minutes = 11:16am
- 11:16am less 48 minutes = 10:28am
- 0900am plus 88 minutes (44 x 2) = 10:28 am

My question: Could this question be solved using a neat algebraic method?

What do you think? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you :)
• Jul 29th 2009, 03:41 AM
Unenlightened
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipps
Example question:
'How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago it was twice as many minutes past 9am?'

44 minutes'.
- 12 noon less 44 minutes = 11:16am
- 11:16am less 48 minutes = 10:28am
- 0900am plus 88 minutes (44 x 2) = 10:28 am

M = number of minutes
T = Time now

So T+M = 12 noon.
T - 48 = 9am + 2M.

Let an hour be 60 minutes, so 12 noon = 720, and 9am = 540.
(Changing from one day to the next could be a pain, but let's ignore that... )

So you have T+M = 720
and T - 48 = 540 + 2M.

Two simultaneous equations for you to solve...

Is that something like what you were looking for?
• Jul 29th 2009, 03:46 AM
earboth
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipps
I am reading a book of sample IQ test questions. One example of which, is the typical 'how many minutes' question.

I can answer the question the long way, but I would be very interested to know if such questions can be solved more elegantly using algebra. I also hope this might provide a chance for brushing up my maths skills!

Allow me to provide an example:

Example question:
'How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago it was twice as many minutes past 9am?'

44 minutes'.
- 12 noon less 44 minutes = 11:16am
- 11:16am less 48 minutes = 10:28am
- 0900am plus 88 minutes (44 x 2) = 10:28 am

My question: Could this question be solved using a neat algebraic method?

What do you think? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you :)

Let x denote the time in question, measured in minutes.

Then you have

\$\displaystyle 12\ h-48\ min-x=9\ h+2x\$

\$\displaystyle 3\ h-48 \min = 3x\$ Convert the hours into minutes:

\$\displaystyle 180\ min - 48\ min = 3x\$

\$\displaystyle 132\ min = 3x\$

\$\displaystyle \boxed{44\ min = x}\$
• Jul 30th 2009, 02:39 AM
Pipps
Unenlightened, I was quite sure how to make your suggested formula work.

But Dear Earboth, your suggested formula worked perfectly for me! And it has worked in numerous similar situations since!

But only once I worked out how you got from '12h -x = 9h +2x' to '3h = 3x'.

I got there after a moment's thought, though. It was just that maths skills were a little rusty! (Itwasntme)
user
The text passage contains a mathematical question and an answer to that question, along with a discussion on how to solve the problem using algebra. The question is about determining the number of minutes before 12 noon, given a specific condition, and the answer provided is 44 minutes.

TYPE: SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER