First, change everything into minutes. 12 noon is 12 by 60 which = 720 minutes. 9am is 9 by 12 which = 540 minutes. X is now your number of minutes before noon.So noon - x is the next step: 720 - x 20 minutes ago it was 720 - x - 20 720 - x - 20= 540 + 3x (3x because you're looking for 3 times as many minutes) 720 - 20 - 540=4x (you combine all the like numbers and variables) 160 = 4x 160/4= x 40 = x Your answer is 40 minutes <span> </span>
