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December 2023 Puzzler

December 01, 2023

This is a little bit of an unusual puzzler – I hope you enjoy it. What is the number of the parking space in which the red car is parked?

Illustration of a car parked in an asphalt parking lot.


Solution to May Puzzler

The exact time is 49 and 1/11 seconds after 7:21. 

Imagine the clock with 60 tick marks evenly spaced around the circular edge. We can label these marks from 1 to 60, with 60 being the top of the clock. Let's suppose the clock hands are perpendicular at X minutes after 7:00. Then the big hand is at position X, while the little hand must be at X+15 (since 90 degrees on the clock is 15 of the one-minute ticks). But the little hand was at position 35 at 7:00 and moves one tick every 12 minutes, so it is now at 35+(X/12). This gives us an equation:

35 + X/12 = X + 15
20 = (11/12)X
X = 240/11 = 21 and 9/11.

So, the hands are perpendicular at 21 minutes and (9/11)(60) = 49 and 1/11 seconds after 7:21. 

Correct Solvers

First correct solution: Alex Blumenfeld, NMR Lab Manager, U of I Chemistry

Second correct Solution: Greg Stenback, B.S. Geological Engineering 1984, M.S. Statistics 1987

Others:

  • Victor Afigbo
  • Mark Daily, B.S. Physics 1981
  • Duke Hughes, B.S. Chemistry 1961 
  • Ruprecht Machleidt, Professor, U of I  Physics
  • Brent Morris, B.S. Mathematics 1985
  • Sharon Schwenk, B.A. Mathematics, 1974
  • John Stutz, M.S. Physics 1973

About the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ

The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, home of the Vandals, is ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.


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