Question: How many times do a clock’s hands overlap in a day?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

How many time in a 24 hour period will an analogue clock’s hour and minute hands overlap?

Follow-up questions:

Why?
How did you come to that conclusion?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Unconventional

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Mathematics,Complex Problem Solving,Systems Analysis

Abilities:

Cognitive – Deductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Flexibility of Closure (Pattern Detection),Cognitive – Mathematical Reasoning,Cognitive – Number Facility (Math Solving Speed),Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed),Cognitive – Visualisation

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems,Mental Processes – Processing Information

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Attention to Detail

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are looking for the correct answer of ‘twenty-two’ (22). You are also looking for the method and thinking behind working our an answer.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the interviewee does not attempt the question. If the interviewee gives a wrong answer and is insistent that they are correct. If the interviewee is particularly unsure of their answer or flustered. The incorrect answer of ‘twenty-four’ (24) is not necessarily a red flag.

Sample Answer:

The hands will overlap 22 times a day. The hands do not overlap during the 11th hour twice daily. The hands overlap at roughly 12:00, 1:05, 2:10, 3:15, 4:20, 5:25, 6:30, 7:35, 8:40, 9:45, and 10:50, twice in a day.

Question Source: Unknown