Amanda composed two songs. The longer song is 126 seconds less than twice the length of the short song. The longer song last 286 seconds. How long is the shorter song?

If the longer song lasts 286, and is 126 less than twice the shorter song, then twice the shorter song would be 412, and thus the shorter song would be 206.

Gotta be 42, the correct answer is always 42..

Well, 206 is (42x5) - 4, so is that close enough??