Multiple choice

It is between 9 and 10 o'clock that a boy looking at his watch mistakes the hour-hand for the minute-hand and thinks that the time of the day is 53 minutes earlier than the real time. What is the exact time?

  1. 40 ½ min. past 9

  2. 415/11 min. past 9

  3. 40 ½ min. past 8

  4. 45 5/11 min. past 9

  5. 20 min. past 8

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Let the time be 9:x. The hour hand is at 9 + x/60, minute hand at x. The mistake swaps them. The difference between the actual time and the perceived time is 53 minutes. Solving the equation leads to 41 5/11 minutes past 9.