smc

Let Paula work at a rate of $p$, the two helpers work at a combined rate of $h$, and the time it takes to eat lunch be $L$, where $p$ and $h$ are in house/hours and L is in hours. Then the labor on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday can be represented by the three following equations: $$(8-L)(p+h)=50$$ $$(6.2-L)h=24$$ $$(11.2-L)p=26$$ With three equations and three variables, we need to find the value of $L$. Adding the second and third equations together gives us $6.2h+11.2p-L(p+h)=50$. Subtracting the first equation from this new one gives us $-1.8h+3.2p=0$, so we get $h=\frac{16}{9}p$. Plugging into the second equation: $$(6.2-L)\frac{16}{9}p=24$$ $$(6.2-L)p=\frac{27}{2}$$ We can then subtract this from the third equation: $$5p=26-\frac{27}{2}$$ $$p=\frac{5}{2}$$ Plugging $p$ into our third equation gives: $$L=\frac{4}{5}$$ Converting $L$ from hours to minutes gives us $L=48$ minutes, which is $\boxed{48}$.