Question

The minute hand of a clock is 6 inches long and moves from 3 o clock to 5 o clock. how far does the tip of the minute hand move. Express your answer round to two decimal places. Can you solve this?

Answer 1

Each hour is equal to 30° or π/6 radians

So to go from 3:00 to 5:00 would take 2π/6 or π/3

the arclength = rØ
= 6(π/3) or 2π inches

= appr 6.28 inches

or

circumference = 2π(6) = 12π
the time from 3:00 to 5:00 represents 1/6 of a rotation = (1/6)(2π) = 2π = appr 6.28 inches as above