How many times do the hour and minute hands of a clock overlap in 12 hours?

  • A. 10
  • B. 11
  • C. 12
  • D. 13

Explanation

The minute hand gains a full lap on the hour hand 11 times in 12 hours, so they coincide 11 times rather than 12. The overlaps fall roughly every 65 minutes rather than exactly on the hour. Between 11 and 12 o'clock there is no separate overlap, which is where the missing twelfth goes.

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