15 Minutes Countdown

What was the challenge?

There were 2 ways for professor to count 15 minutes using 11 & 7 minutes hourglasses.

Method 1 :

1. He started both 7 & 11 minutes hourglasses but didn't begin test.

2. After 7 minutes hourglass ran out, he started the test. Still 11 one yet to count 4 minutes.

3. After conducting test for 4 minutes, 11 hourglass ran out.

4. Now he turns around 11 hourglass & continues. So 11 + 4 = 15 minutes counted.

Method 2 :

1. He started both the hourglasses & started to conduct the test as well.

2. When 7 minutes ran out he turned around it & kept 11 minutes counting.

3. After 4 minutes, 11 minutes hourglass ran out. Meanwhile 7 minutes hourglass also counted 4 minutes. So far 11 minutes counted.

4. Then he again turned around 7 minutes hourglass which had counted 4 minutes. That's how 7 minutes counted 4 minutes again.

5. In this way, 11 + 4 = 15 minutes counted.