Assume Mr. Pinto's initial capital is \( C \) dollars.
He invests \( \left( \frac{1}{5} \right) C \) at \( 6\% \) annual interest. The interest earned after \( t \) years is \( \left(\frac{1}{5}\right) \times C \times 0.06 \times t \).
He invests \( \left( \frac{1}{3} \right) C \) at \( 10\% \) annual interest. The interest earned after \( t \) years is \( \left(\frac{1}{3}\right) \times C \times 0.10 \times t \).
The remaining capital, \( \left( 1 - \frac{1}{5} - \frac{1}{3} \right) C = \left( \frac{11}{15} \right) C \), is invested at \( 1\% \) annual interest. The interest earned after \( t \) years is \( \left(\frac{11}{15}\right) \times C \times 0.01 \times t \).
The cumulative interest income from these investments must equal or exceed his initial capital, \( C \). This can be represented by the inequality:
\(\left(\frac{1}{5}\right) \times C \times 0.06 \times t + \left(\frac{1}{3}\right) \times C \times 0.10 \times t + \left(\frac{11}{15}\right) \times C \times 0.01 \times t \geq C\)
Solving for \( t \):
\(\left(\frac{1}{5}\right) \times 0.06 \times t + \left(\frac{1}{3}\right) \times 0.10 \times t + \left(\frac{11}{15}\right) \times 0.01 \times t \geq 1\)
Simplifying the equation:
\(0.012t + 0.0333t + 0.0073t \geq 1\)
Combining terms:
\(0.0523t \geq 1\)
Dividing by 0.0523:
\(t \geq \frac{1}{0.0523}\)
\(t \geq 19.13\)
Since time must be a whole number of years, the minimum duration for the cumulative interest to meet or exceed the initial capital is 20 years.
The required time is 20 years.