# How long for 12 strikes?: visual puzzle | SwaVid

A clock takes 5 seconds to strike 6 times. At the same rhythm, how long does it take to strike 12 times? See the complete step-by-step solution.

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Source: https://www.swavid.com/puzzles/clock-strikes

# How long for 12 strikes?

## 11 seconds.

### Count the gaps in 6 strikes

### Count the gaps in 12 strikes

### Multiply by the gap length

SwaVid visual puzzle

A clock takes 5 seconds to strike 6 times. At the same rhythm, how long does it take to strike 12 times?

Detailed solution

Time passes in the gaps between strikes, and there is always one fewer gap than strikes.

Six strikes have five gaps between them.

Twelve strikes have eleven gaps.

Each gap is one second.

Doubling 5 seconds to 10 assumes the time is spread over the strikes, but the strikes are instant; only the gaps take time.

- 1 Count the gaps in 6 strikes Six strikes have five gaps between them. 6 − 1 = 5 gaps in 5 s → 1 s per gap
- 2 Count the gaps in 12 strikes Twelve strikes have eleven gaps. 12 − 1 = 11 gaps
- 3 Multiply by the gap length Each gap is one second. 11 × 1 s = 11 s

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