# Tricky Algebra well for me

1. Apr 28, 2015

### lionely

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A clock gains x min. every 24 hr. If it is y min. slow at present, in how many hours will it show the correct time?

2. Relevant equations
N/A

3. The attempt at a solution
I called the current time Tc so
I have:

Tc = Tc- y

I know x will get added to the above equation every 24 hours but I don't know how to connect them. So I get stuck.
I tried something like (Tc = Tc -y + x)/24 but I don't think this make sense.

Could someone give me a hint? Help is greatly appreciated.

(P.S. I know this is simple but do you guys ever buck up on a simple problem that you just can't seem to get out? or do I need to re-study algebra?)

2. Apr 28, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

If it catches up x minutes every 24 hours, how many minutes does it catch up after h hours?

3. Apr 28, 2015

### lionely

It would catch by hx\24 minutes every h hour

4. Apr 28, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

So how many hours h does it take to catch up y minutes?

5. Apr 28, 2015

### lionely

hx/24y ?

6. Apr 28, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

$\frac{hx}{24}=y$

h=?

This is a rate x time = distance problem

Chet

7. Apr 28, 2015

### lionely

Okay that's one part I don't get I didn't have (hx)/24 = y I had (hx)/(24y). I wondering about how to connect x to y , I mean what would make x = y . I'm still a bit confused about the reasoning behind the answer sorry.

8. Apr 28, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

If a clock gains 2 minutes every hour and it starts out behind by 10 minutes, how long does it take to catch up?

If a clock gains x/24 minutes every hour and it starts out behind by y minutes, how long does it take to catch up?

9. Apr 28, 2015

### lionely

For the first question it would take 5 hours, but the second one eh I still can't see it. I did the first like so

if the time was actual time was 12 then the time shown would be 11:50 so after 1 hour(h1) the time would be 12:52 , then 1:54(h2) then 2:56(h3) then 3:58(h4) then 4:00(h5)
so yeah 5 hours.

10. Apr 28, 2015

### lionely

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I see it now I am such an idiot. Thank you so much!

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