Question

Select a figure from the options which will complete the given figure pattern.

• A. $7:20$
• B. $7:40$
• C. $6:40$
• D. $7:00$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$7:40$

• The correct answer is option B.
• The concept to keep in mind here is for every minute an hour hand covers ${0.5}^o$, while a minute hand covers $6^o$ in every minute.
  

$\Rightarrow$From the $12$ (in $1^{st}$ figure) to $8$ (in $2^{nd}$ figure) on the clock the minute hand moves by ${240}^O$.

$\Rightarrow$Then from $8$ (in $2^{nd}$ figure) to $4$ (in $3^{rd}$ figure) the minute hand again moves by ${240}^O$.

$\Rightarrow$Hence in the $4^{th}$ figure also the minute needs to move by ${240}^O$, which means it needs to be on $8$ again. This narrows down the answer to options B or C.
$\Rightarrow$ In the $1^{st}$ the hour hand is on $2$ and moves by ${90}^O$ to 11 in the $2^{nd}$ figure. However in the $3^{rd}$ figure it moves back only by ${60}^O$ to $9$.

$\Rightarrow$Hence in the $4^{th}$ figure we expect the hour hand to move by only ${30}^O$ in keeping with the decreasing arithmetic progression of $90\to 60\to 30$. That means we expect the hour hand to be on 8 in the $4^{th}$ figure.
$\Rightarrow$ If both hour and minute hands are near $8$ then the time is $7:40$ (not $8:40$, a common misconception).