GATE Mechanical 2022 Set 1 | GA Question: 10

Question

In a $12$-hour clock that runs correctly, how many times do the second, minute, and hour hands of the clock coincide, in a $12$-hour duration from $3$ PM in a day to $3$ AM the next day?

• A. $11$
• B. $12$
• C. $144$
• D. $2$

Answer 1

The hands of a clock coincide $11$ times in every $12$ hour (Since between $11$ and $1,$ they coincide only once, i.e., at $12$ o'clock). The hands overlap about every $65$ minutes, not every $60$ minutes.

We can see in this way:

${\color{Green}{\text{3 PM}}} \overset{1}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Blue}{\text{4:05 PM}}} \overset{2}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Teal}{\text{5:10 PM}}}  \overset{3}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Purple}{\text{6:15 PM}}}  \overset{4}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Lime}{\text{7:20 PM}}} \overset{5}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Violet}{\text{8:25 PM}}}  \overset{6}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Cyan}{\text{9:30 PM}}} \overset{7}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Olive}{\text{10:35 PM}}}  \overset{8}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Magenta}{\text{11:40 PM}}}  \overset{9}{\longrightarrow}  {\color{Orange}{\text{12:45 AM}}}  \overset{10}{\longrightarrow} {\color{DarkOrchid}{\text{1:50 AM}}}  \overset{11}{\longrightarrow} {\color{Red}{\text{2:55 AM}}}$

Correct Answer $:\text{A}$