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Synchronized sources

Pure logicLevel 4 · Advanced · ●●●●○

Three sources activate every 4, 6 and 9 minutes.
At 12:00 all three were activated at the same time.
A visitor enters between 12:00 and 12:30. Since entering:

  • the first match from exactly two sources occurs at 2 minutes,
  • the second match from exactly two sources occurs at 8 minutes,
  • the first match of the three occurs at 20 minutes.

What time did you come in?

Hints

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  1. If they matched at 12:00, the next triple match is at 12:36.
  2. Since that triple match occurred 20 minutes after entering: $12{:}36-20\,\text{min}=12{:}16$.
  3. Match check from exactly two sources from 12:16: at 2 min: 12:18 (6 and 9 match).

Solution

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Answer: came in at 12:16.
The three sources each agree:

$$ \operatorname{mcm}(4,6,9)=36\ \text{minutos}. $$

If they matched at 12:00, the next triple match is at 12:36.
Since that triple match happened 20 minutes after entering:

$$ 12{:}36-20\ \text{min} = 12{:}16. $$

Match checking from exactly two sources as of 12:16:

  • at 2 min: 12:18 (6 and 9 coincide),
  • at 8 min: 12:24 (4 and 6 coincide),
  • at 20 min: 12:36 (3 o'clock coincide).

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