I have a clock at home that chimes on every hour and half hour mark. On whole hour marks it chimes once for each hour, and on half hour marks it chimes only once.

One night I was wakened suddenly and realized the the clock had chimed, but I did not know how many times. As I lay awake thinking about nothing in particular I heard the clock chime once and started wondering what time it was.

What is the longest amount of time I would have to lie awake before I knew for sure what time it was?

My Solution:<o:p></o:p>

Given that the clock chimes once for each hour & once for every half hour...  I'll have to say 2 hours<o:p></o:p>

The person was awakened by the last chime at the stroke of midnight.  12:00 am  He then proceeds to hear the chime at 12:30 am (1 chime) then while lying awake, a half an hour later, he heard 1 chime (1:00 am) still awake, he hears 1 chime again (1:30 am) finally, within the next half an hour, he hears 2 chimes.  Designating that 2:00 am is now the time.  <o:p></o:p>

4 chimes and 2 hours is my guess<o:p></o:p>

 

Posted by Joe on 2005-08-11 20:46:51