1970 AMC 12 Problem 29

Attempt Problem 29 of the 1970 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1970 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

29.

It is now between 10:0010{:}00 and 11:0011{:}00 o’clock, and six minutes from now, the minute hand of a watch will be exactly opposite the place where the hour hand was three minutes ago. What is the exact time now?
10:0551110{:}05\tfrac5{11}
10:071210{:}07\tfrac12
10:1010{:}10
10:1510{:}15
10:171210{:}17\tfrac12
Answer: D
Concepts:clocklinear equation
Small hint:
Let xx be the number of minutes after 10:0010{:}00 now
Big hint:
In minute-space units, the future minute hand is at x+6x+6, while the point opposite the past hour hand is at 20+x−31220+\frac{x-3}{12}
Solution:
Let xx be the number of minutes after 10:0010{:}00 now. Six minutes from now, the minute hand is x+6x+6 minute spaces clockwise from 12.12. Three minutes ago, the hour hand was x−312\frac{x-3}{12} minute spaces past the 10,10, so the point opposite it was 20+x−312 20+\frac{x-3}{12} minute spaces past 12.12. Hence x+6=20+x−312. x+6=20+\frac{x-3}{12}. Solving gives x=15,x=15, so the time is 10:15.10{:}15.
Therefore, the correct answer is D.
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