CSATNumber System & SeriesHCF LCM Arithmetic2014

A bell rings every 18 minutes. A second bell rings every 24 minutes. A third bell rings every 32 minutes. If all the three bells ring at the same time at 8 o'clock in the morning, at what other time will they all ring together?

A

12:40 hrs

B

12:48 hrs

C

12:56 hrs

D

13:04 hrs

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

To find when the bells ring together again, we need a time interval that is divisible by all three individual intervals: 18, 24, and 32 minutes.\n\n1. **Find the LCM:**\n - Look at the numbers: 18, 24, 32.\n - **32** is purely $2^5$.\n - **18** is $2 \\times 9$ (or $2 \\times 3^2$).\n - **24** is $3 \\times 8$ ($3 \\times 2^3$).\n - The LCM must handle the 'heaviest' requirements of all numbers. It needs the maximum power of 2 (which is 32) and the maximum power of 3 (which is 9).\n - LCM = $32 \\times 9$.\n - Calculation: $32 \\times 10 = 320$, so $32 \\times 9 = 320 - 32 = 288$ minutes.\n\n2. **Convert to Hours:**\n - We need to add 288 minutes to 8:00 AM.\n - $288 / 60$: We know 4 hours is 240 minutes ($60 \\times 4$).\n - Remainder: $288 - 240 = 48$ minutes.\n - So, the gap is 4 hours and 48 minutes.\n\n3. **Final Time:**\n - 8:00 AM + 4 hours = 12:00 PM.\n - 12:00 PM + 48 minutes = 12:48 PM.\n\n4. **Check Options:**\n - (A) 12:40\n - (B) 12:48\n - (C) 12:56\n - (D) 13:04\n Option (B) matches exactly.

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