Continuous vs Discrete

Let continuous clock be a clock, where both hands, smoothly and continuously rotate over time.

Let discrete clock be a clock, where both hands shift for each minute. From the start, both hands are at the same position, pointing at 12. Then, the minute hand rotates 6 6^{\circ} clockwise for each minute.

Which clock has the highest chance of both hands making an acute angle A \angle A at some positions?

Note: The target angle is the shortest of the two formed angles, so that the measurement range is between 0 0^{\circ} and 18 0 180^{\circ} .

Discrete clock Both have the same probability. Continuous clock

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1 solution

Geoff Pilling
Sep 17, 2018

The hands of a continuous clock will hit a right angle every ~33 minutes or so. However a discrete clock will skip over most of these right angles.

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