Question

What is the angle between the minute hand and the hour hand of a clock at 5:30?

1. 5°
2. 15°
3. 25°
4. 30°

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 15°

Angle traced by hour hand in 12 hrs. = 360°
Angle traced by hour hand in 1 hour = 360°/12 = 30°
At 5:30, angle traced by hour hand = (5 + 30/60) * 30° = 11/2 * 30° = 165°
Angle traced by the minute hand in 1 minute = 360°/60 = 6°
In 30 minutes, angle traced by minute hand = 30 * 6° = 180°
The angle between the minute and hour hand is 180° – 165° = 15°
Hence, 15° is the correct answer.

TRICK:

Angle between hands = |30×H – (11/2)×M|
where H = hour and M = minute

Angle between hands = |30×5 - (11/2)×30|
                                   = |150 – 165|
                                   = |-15|
                                   = 15°