I think there is a much simpler solution than all provided so far. Consider the following three facts: - hour hand will rotate 2 full times in a day - minute hand will rotate 24 full times in a day - second hand will rotate 1440 full times in a day So then: (a) the minute and hour hands, will meet exactly: >! 22 times: 24 - 2 (b) the minute and second hands, will meet exactly: >! 1416 times: 1440 - 24 (c) the hour and second hands, will meet exactly: >! 1438 times: 1440 - 2 (d) all three hands, will meet exactly: >! twice: only at exactly 12:00:00 o'clock (noon and midnight) Simply because: >! The faster hand passes the slower hand by the number of laps it makes minus the number of laps the slower hand makes. With the special case: >! One hand lapping another won't necessarily coincide with the third hand being there.