This old interview question still has job applicants squirming in 2023… so, how many times a day do the hands of a clock overlap?
- Brainteasers are a type of riddles or puzzles that challenge you to think outside the box and have been part of society for over 2000 years
- Most people scratch their heads when asked ‘how many times a day do the hands of a clock overlap’. Can you solve it?
Brainteasers usually attract attention and test one’s creative thinking skills and the satisfaction you feel after solving a complex riddle leaves you wanting more.
They have been part of society for over 2000 years. The Greek mathematician Archimedes is believed to have created challenging problems to test his colleagues.
Brain teasers are like riddles or puzzles that challenge you to think outside the box.
Unfortunately, they are also sometimes used during job interviews. And an old interview question keeps people writhing as they struggle to find the answer.
Most people scratch their heads when asked, “How many times a day do the hands of a clock overlap?”
So, do you know the answer?
Most people scratch their heads when asked, “How many times a day do the hands of a clock overlap?”
If you’re struggling for the answer, you’re in company.
The correct answer is 22.
The hands of a clock coincide 11 times in each 12-hour period.
They roughly overlap at 12:00, 1:05, 2:10, 3:15, 4:20, 5:25, 6:30, 7:35, 8:40, 9:45, and 10:50 twice per day .
There is no overlap at 11:55 because the hour hand moves closer to 12 when the minute hand is at 11.
The correct answer is 22, since the hands of a clock coincide 11 times in every 12-hour period
Interviewers are known to use brainteasers during job interviews because they want to see how a candidate thinks through problems.
They are not necessarily looking for the right answer, but rather the approach you use to work out the solution.
Doing brainteasers regularly uses your cognitive skills and helps improve your ability to learn, your problem solving skills and memory.
They can be found in the form of riddles, puzzles, words and numbers and are available in newspapers, books and numerous websites on the Internet.