Problema Solution

How many minutes after 2 o'clock does the line between the middle of the clock and the number 3 bisect the angle made by the hour and minute hand?

Answer provided by our tutors

The speed of the hour hand is v1 = 2 Pi / (24*60) radii / min


The speed of the minute hand is v2 = 2 Pi / 60 radii / min


let p be the line between the middle of the clock and the number 3


After 1 hour and x minutes the angle between:


- the hour hand and the p line will be x*v1

- the minute hand and the p line will be pi/2 - x*v2


and they are equal


x*v1 = pi/2 - x*v1


x*2 Pi / (24*60) = pi/2 - x*2 Pi / 60 divide both sides by pi


x/720 = 1/2 - x/30


x = 14.4 min


The solution is 1 hour and 14.4 min = 74.4 minutes.