Math Problem Statement

The clock reads 9:10 in the morning. After how many seconds, rounded to the nearest second, do the hour and minute hands overlap before 10 a.m.?

Solution

To solve this problem, we need to calculate when the minute and hour hands of a clock will next overlap after 9:10 a.m.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Understanding Initial Positions:

    • At 9:00, the hour hand points at 9, which is 270 degrees from 12 o'clock (each hour is 30 degrees).
    • At 9:10, the minute hand is on 2 (10 minutes into the hour), which is 60 degrees (each minute moves the minute hand by 6 degrees).
  2. Calculating the Position of the Hour Hand at 9:10:

    • Every hour, the hour hand moves 30 degrees (360 degrees / 12 hours).
    • In 10 minutes (1/6 of an hour), the hour hand moves 306=5\frac{30}{6} = 5 degrees.
    • Thus, at 9:10, the hour hand is at 270+5=275270 + 5 = 275 degrees from the 12 o'clock position.
  3. Relative Speed of Minute and Hour Hands:

    • The minute hand moves at 6 degrees per minute.
    • The hour hand moves at 0.5 degrees per minute.
    • Therefore, the relative speed at which the minute hand approaches the hour hand is 60.5=5.56 - 0.5 = 5.5 degrees per minute.
  4. Distance to Close the Gap:

    • At 9:10, the gap between the minute and hour hands is 360(27560)=145360 - (275 - 60) = 145 degrees.
    • To close this gap, we calculate the time it will take: Time=GapRelative Speed=1455.526.36 minutes\text{Time} = \frac{\text{Gap}}{\text{Relative Speed}} = \frac{145}{5.5} \approx 26.36 \text{ minutes}
  5. Convert Minutes to Seconds:

    • 26.3626.36 minutes is approximately 26.36×60158226.36 \times 60 \approx 1582 seconds.
  6. Conclusion:

    • Rounded to the nearest second, it will take approximately 1582 seconds after 9:10 for the hour and minute hands to overlap.

Would you like a more detailed breakdown of any step?


Here are five questions to further explore this topic:

  1. How often do the minute and hour hands overlap in a 12-hour period?
  2. How would the calculation change if the time was 9:20 instead of 9:10?
  3. What is the angle between the hour and minute hands at any given time?
  4. At what other times do the hour and minute hands overlap throughout the day?
  5. How would we find when the minute and hour hands overlap on a 24-hour clock?

Tip: Remember that the speed difference between the hands is key in solving overlap problems.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Relative speed
Angles in clock problems
Time calculation

Formulas

Time = Gap / Relative Speed
Degree per hour = 30 degrees
Degree per minute = 6 degrees

Theorems

Relative motion in clock problems

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12