How many minutes in a year?

Question

Solve in your head. How many minutes are in a (non-leap) year? Give the exact figure. Aim: under 20 seconds.

Accepted Answer

Build up one factor at a time. Minutes in a day: 24 	imes 60 = 1{,}440 	ext{ minutes per day.} Then multiply by 365 days. Split 365 = 300 + 65: - 1{,}440 	imes 300 = 432{,}000 - 1{,}440 	imes 65 = 1{,}440 	imes 60 + 1{,}440 	imes 5 = 86{,}400 + 7{,}200 = 93{,}600 432{,}000 + 93{,}600 = 525{,}600 	ext{ minutes.} This is a number worth memorizing outright: 525{,}600 minutes in a year (the "how do you measure a year" figure from the musical Rent). A quick cross-check against seconds: minutes 	imes 60 = 525{,}600 	imes 60 = 31{,}536{,}000 seconds, matching the standard seconds-per-year f…

How many minutes in a year?

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