Calculator Technique for Clock

Problems in Algebra

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Submitted by Romel Verterra on January 30, 2013 - 12:58am

The following models of CASIO calculator may work with these methods: fx-570ES, fx570ES Plus, fx-115ES, fx-115ES Plus, fx-991ES, and fx-991ES Plus.

Before we go to Calculator technique, let us first understand the movements of the

hands of our continuously driven clock.

For simplicity, let "dial" be the unit of one hand movement and there are 60 dials in the
complete circle as shown in the figure.

1.

When the minute-hand moves 60 dials, the

hour hand moves 5 dials. The ratio of the two
movements, hour-hand over minute-hand, is
5/60 = 1/12. Thus, if the minute-hand will move
x-minutes, the hour-hand moves by x/12
minutes.

2.

When the second-hand moves 60 dials, the

minute-hand moves 1 dial. The ratio of the two
movements, minute-hand over second-hand, is 1/60. Thus, if the second-hand will
move x-seconds, the minute-hand moves by x/60 seconds, and the hour-hand also
moves by 1/12 of x/60 or x/720 seconds.

3.

The relationship of hand-movements can also be translated in terms of degree

unit which I found handy in calculator technique for board exam problems. We

know that a complete circle is equal to 360 and equal to 60 dials. Thus, 1 dial is
equivalent to 360/60 = 6 and five dials is equivalent to 5(6) = 30. Note that 1
dial move of the minute-hand is equivalent to 1 minute of time, and five dials move
of the hour-hand is equivalent to 1 hour of time.

Knowing all of the above, we can now develop the calculator technique for solving
clock-related problem. We will solve some example here in order to apply this time
saving technique.

Problem
What time after 3:00 o'clock will the minute-hand and the hour-hand of the clock be (a)
together for the first time, (b) perpendicular for the first time, and (c) in straight line
for the first time?

Traditional Solution
ShowClick here to show or hide the solution

Solution by Calculator
The following calculator keys will be used.

Name

Key

Operation

Name

Key

Operation

Shift

SHIFT

Stat

SHIFT 1[STAT]

Mode

MODE

AC

AC

The relationship between the movements of the clock hands is linear. We can therefore
use the Linear Regression in STAT mode.

Approach No. 1
Take 3:00 pm as reference point. Initially, the minute-hand of the clock is at 0 dial and
the hour-hand of the clock is advance by 15 dials, thus, coordinates (0, 15). After 1
hour (4:00 pm), the minute-hand advanced by 60 dials leaving the hour-hand 40 dials,
thus, coordinates (60, -40).

MODE 3:STAT 2:A+BX

X
0
60

Y
15
-40

(a) Together for the first time: The distance between the hands of the clock is zero. We
will therefore find X when Y is zero in our table.

AC 0 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret

0x-caret = 16.36

Thus, time = 3:16.36 pm

(b) Perpendicular for the first time: The hour-hand is behind by 15 dials by the minute
hand. Let us find X when Y is -15.

AC -15 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret

-15x-caret = 32.73

Thus, time = 3:32.73 pm

(c) Straight line for the first time: The hour-hand is behind by 30 dials by the minute
hand, thus find X when Y is -30.

AC -30 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret

-30x-caret = 49.09

Thus, time = 3:49.09 pm

The above approach works fine but you need to mentally visualize the hands of the
clock to get the proper sign (positive or negative) and value of the coordinates. See for
example if the given time is 10:00 pm, the hands will be in straight line for the first
time with the hour hand advancing the minute hand by 30 dials. Thus Y is +30 and not
-30. This mental visualization takes the same effort as the traditional solution; the only
difference is the absence of drawing. Without the drawing is good already but we can
do better than that. The next approach will be more consistent, the only catch is that
you need to memorize the numbers 30 and 330. I think it is not hard to memorize that
numbers.

Approach No. 2
In the first approach, both X and Y are in dial units. In this second approach, the X
coordinate will be in dial and Y coordinates in degrees. Recall that in 1 hour, the hourhand will move 5 dials equivalent to 30 and the minute-hand moves for 60 dials or
360. The 1 hour difference is therefore 360 - 30 = 330 for the hour and minutehands of the clock. At 3:00 pm, the minute-hand is at -90 in reference with the hourhand, thus coordinates (0, -90). After 1 hour, that is at 4:00 pm, the minute hand
advanced the right hand by 330 - 90 = 240, thus coordinates (60, 240)

MODE 3:STAT 2:A+BX

X
0
60

Y
-90
240

Explanation
-3 30
330 - 90

(a) Together for the first time: The angle between the hands of the clock is zero. Find X
when Y is zero in our table.

AC 0 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret

0x-caret = 16.36

Thus, time = 3:16.36 pm

(b) Perpendicular for the first time: The angle between the hour-hand and minute-hand
is 90. Let us find X when Y is 90.
AC 90 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret
90x-caret = 32.73

Thus, time = 3:32.73 pm

(c) Straight line for the first time: The angle between the hour-hand and minute-hand
is 180, thus find X when Y is 180.

AC 180 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret

180x-caret = 49.09

Thus, time = 3:49.09 pm

For me, the second approach is more rapid and easy to implement. I recommend you
master just one and be good at it.

Problem
How soon after 5:00 o'clock will the hands of the clock form a (a) 60-degree angle for
the first time, (b) 60-degree angle for the second time, and (c) 150-degree angle?

Solution by Calculator Technique

MODE 3:STAT 2:A+BX

Explanation

0
60

-150
180

-5 30
330 - 150

(a) 60-degree angle for the first time

AC -60 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret
-60x-caret = 16.36 minutes

answer

(b) 60-degree angle for the second time

AC 60 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret
60x-caret = 38.18 minutes

answer

(c) 150-degree angle

AC 150 SHIFT 1[STAT] 7:Reg 4:x-caret
150x-caret = 54.54 minutes

answer

You may also like the calculator technique for arithmetic progression, geometric
progression, and harmonic progression.
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