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Nuclear Hoagie
Nuclear Hoagie
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The smallest possible interval is

just over 1 second.

The other answers correctly note that the nearest palindromic times are

9:59:59 and 10:00:01

But they incorrectly conclude that

2 seconds must elapse between them. This is incorrect. If we look at the clock in the last possible moment that it reads 9:59:59, we just have to wait 1 full second while the clock reads 10:00:00 before it reads 10:00:01. It is possible to see two palindromic times on the clock while looking at it for just over 1 second (although you couldn't actually measure this sub-second interval with the clock you're looking at).

The smallest possible interval is

just over 1 second.

The other answers correctly note that the nearest palindromic times are

9:59:59 and 10:00:01

But they incorrectly conclude that

2 seconds must elapse between them. This is incorrect. If we look at the clock in the last possible moment that it reads 9:59:59, we just have to wait 1 full second while the clock reads 10:00:00 before it reads 10:00:01. It is possible to see two palindromic times on the clock while looking at it for just over 1 second.

The smallest possible interval is

just over 1 second.

The other answers correctly note that the nearest palindromic times are

9:59:59 and 10:00:01

But they incorrectly conclude that

2 seconds must elapse between them. This is incorrect. If we look at the clock in the last possible moment that it reads 9:59:59, we just have to wait 1 full second while the clock reads 10:00:00 before it reads 10:00:01. It is possible to see two palindromic times on the clock while looking at it for just over 1 second (although you couldn't actually measure this sub-second interval with the clock you're looking at).

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Nuclear Hoagie
Nuclear Hoagie
  • 5.9k
  • 16
  • 39

The smallest possible interval is

just over 1 second.

The other answers correctly note that the nearest palindromic times are

9:59:59 and 10:00:01

But they incorrectly conclude that

2 seconds must elapse between them. This is incorrect. If we look at the clock in the last possible moment that it reads 9:59:59, we just have to wait 1 full second while the clock reads 10:00:00 before it reads 10:00:01. It is possible to see two palindromic times on the clock while looking at it for just over 1 second.