Final answer:
It will take 22 minutes for the water cooler to empty at the rate of 3 cups being taken per minute, calculated by dividing the total number of cups (66) by the number of cups taken per minute (3).
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the number of minutes it will take for the water cooler to empty when 3 cups are taken each minute from a starting point of 66 cups, you simply divide the total number of cups by the number of cups taken per minute. The calculation is as follows:
Start with 66 cups in the water cooler.
3 cups are taken each minute.
Divide the total number of cups by the number of cups taken per minute: 66 cups ÷ 3 cups/minute = 22 minutes.
Therefore, it will take 22 minutes for the water cooler to empty at the rate of 3 cups per minute.