Question

A clock is placed such that at 12 noon its hour hand points towards North-East. In which direction does its minute hand point at 3.45 p.m.?

• A. North-West
• B. East
• C. West
• D. South-East

Hint:

When calculating directions based on clock positions, break down the movement of the hands and consider the angles or portions of the clock to determine the final direction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

We are given that at 12 noon, the hour hand points towards North-East. Let’s break down the movement of the clock hands.
Step 1: Understanding the clock's initial position
At 12:00 noon, the hour hand is pointing towards North-East. This means that:
The hour hand points halfway between North and East.
The minute hand at 12:00 points towards 12, which corresponds to the North direction.
Step 2: Analyzing the position of the minute hand at 3:45 p.m. At 3:45 p.m., we know that the minute hand points at 9, which is 3/4th of the way around the clock from 12. Now, the position of the minute hand in terms of angles:
The full circle of the clock is 360°.
Since the minute hand moves 6° for each minute (360°/60), at 45 minutes, it has moved 270° clockwise from the 12 o'clock position.
Step 3: Determining the direction Starting from North-East (the 12 o'clock position):
The minute hand points 270° clockwise from the North-East, which places it in the North-West direction.
Thus, the minute hand points towards North-West.