Solution to Problem 26


Congratulations to this week's winner

Mike Fitzpatrick

Correct solutions were also received from Jim Otermat, Karrie Mazurkiewicz, Kerrie Kerr, Ray Kremer, Yan Fridman, and Erik Lamb (of Maroa-Forsyth High School). Three incorrect or incomplete submissions were received.

Let t denote the time at which the two hands of the clock meet. Measuring angles clockwise from 12 o'clock, at time t the minute hand has swept out an angle of while the hour hand has swept out an angle of /2 + /12. Solving for gives = (6/11). This gives a time of 3:16:21.8181...


You are visitor number 3781 to this page.
Page last updated 6 February 1998.