# Puzzles

## What are puzzles?

Puzzle in simple terms is defined as a problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge. They have become an integral part of few competitive exams and entrance tests. They are devised with intent to test the knowledge of to-be-solver.

## What are different types of puzzles?

There are different types, which are devised with a specific intent to test a person’s ability to interpret and solve the problem. Different type of puzzles are :

• Math
• Number
• Logic
• Clock
• Missing letter
• Word

## What exams have puzzles?

Almost every competitive exams have puzzles. They are most commonly found in competitive exams like : CAT, MAT, XAT, Bank P.O.s, AIEEE, GATE, TOEFL, GRE, and GATE etc. In these exams, mostly arithmetic, math, number, and logic puzzles.

## How to solve puzzles?

To solve, one needs to interpret the questions properly and understand the sequence in the problem Is designed. By understanding the sequence, it becomes easier to solve a problem. Understanding the sequence of a puzzle requires strong logical ability and a creative thought pattern. The key is to solve as many different puzzles as possible to improve the thought process and gain expertise over different ways of solving a problem.

## Puzzles

How many times in a day, are the hands of a clock in straight line but opposite in direction?

 A) 20 B) 22 C) 24 D) 48

Explanation:

The hands of a clock point in opposite directions (in the same straight line) 11 times in every 12 hours. (Because between 5 and 7 they point in opposite directions at 6 o'clcok only).

So, in a day, the hands point in the opposite directions 22 times.

Subject: Clock puzzles

36

A clock is started at noon. By 10 minutes past 5, the hour hand has turned through:

 A) 145 B) 150 C) 155 D) 160

Explanation:

Angle traced by hour hand in 12 hrs = 360º.

Angle traced by hour hand in 5 hrs 10 min.  i.e.,${\color{Black}&space;\frac{31}{6}}$ hrs ${\color{Black}&space;\left&space;(&space;\frac{360}{12}&space;\times&space;\frac{31}{6}\right&space;)^o}$= 155º

Subject: Clock puzzles

16

A watch which gains uniformly is 2 minutes low at noon on Monday and is 4 min. 48 sec fast at 2 p.m. on the following Monday. When was it correct?

 A) 2 p.m. on Tuesday B) 2 p.m. on Wednesday C) 3 p.m. on Thursday D) 1 p.m. on Friday

Explanation:

Time from 12 p.m. on Monday to 2 p.m. on the following Monday = 7 days 2 hours = 170 hours.

${\color{Black}&space;\therefore&space;}$ The Watch gains ${\color{Black}&space;\left&space;(&space;2+4\frac{4}{5}&space;\right&space;)&space;}$ min.  or ${\color{Black}&space;\frac{34}{5}&space;}$  min.in 170 hrs.

Now,  $\inline \fn_cm \frac{34}{5}$min.are gained in 170 hrs.

${\color{Black}\therefore&space;}$  2 min.are gained in${\color{Black}\left&space;(&space;170\times&space;\frac{5}{34}\times&space;2&space;\right&space;)&space;}$ hrs=50 hrs

${\color{Black}&space;\therefore&space;}$ Watch is correct 2 days 2 hrs. after 12 p.m. on Monday i.e., it will be correct at 2 p.m. on Wednesday

Subject: Clock puzzles

23

Using the four letters below only, create a seven letter word.

UMNI

MINIMUM

Subject: Word Puzzles

23

At 3.40, the hour hand and the minute hand of a clock form an angle of:

 A) 120 degrees B) 125 degrees C) 130 degrees D) 135 degrees

Explanation:

Angle traced by hour hand in 12 hrs. = 360º.

Angle traced by it in  ${\color{Black}&space;\frac{11}{3}}$ hrs=  ${\color{Black}&space;\left&space;(&space;\frac{360}{12}&space;\times&space;\frac{11}{3}\right&space;)^{o}}$=${\color{Black}110&space;^{o}}$

Angle traced by minute hand in 60 min. = 360º.

Angle traced by it in 40 min. =${\color{Black}\left&space;(&space;\frac{360}{60}&space;\times&space;40\right&space;)^{o}}$=${\color{Black}240^{o}}$

${\color{Black}&space;\therefore&space;}$ Required angle (240 - 110)º = 130º.