How many minutes is it before 12 noon if 16 minutes ago it was three times as many minutes after 9 am?

Question

Exactly how many minutes is it before seven o'clock, if 40 minutes ago it was three times as many minutes past two o'clock?

Answer 1

Difference between 9 AM and 12 Noon is 180 minutes.

Now assume that:

X is the time 16 minutes ago which is also 3 times after 9 am.

So it will become:

X + 16 + 3X = 180
4X + 16 = 180
4X = 180 - 16
4X = 164
X = 164/4
X = 41 minutes

Answer 2

Lolss...a lill'bit tricky though but I figured it out...
The minutes there from 9am - 12pm = 180 minuets.
180 x 3 = 540
So if we calculate,it'd down at 3am.
The statement was made 16 minutes after 3am.
Therefore,540 minuets are there before 12pm.