Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Puzzle 005 (EU): Clock Hands
Between noon and midnight, how many times do a clock's hour and minute hands pass each other?
- Chapter
- Chapter 1
- Location
- Village Square
- Picarats
- 50 picarats
- Type
- Write Answer
- Region
- Europe / UK · US version: Digital Digits
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
At noon the two hands start out pointing the same way. Decide whether that moment should count before you start counting.
Tap to flip backHint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
The minute hand catches the hour hand a little later each hour: just after 1:05, then just after 2:10, and so on.
Tap to flip backHint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Keep listing the catch-ups all the way to the end. Where does the last one land, and is it inside the time window?
Tap to flip backAnswer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
The answer is 10.
Tap to flip backSolution, FAQ and sources
Solution
In 12 hours the minute hand goes round 12 times and the hour hand once, so the minute hand gains 11 full laps. That means the hands line up 11 times after noon, roughly every 65½ minutes (12/11 of an hour).
The 11th time they line up is exactly midnight — the end of the window, where the hands are simply together again, just like at noon. Neither the starting nor the finishing position is a pass, so the passes are the 10 in between: about 1:05, 2:11, 3:16, 4:22, 5:27, 6:33, 7:38, 8:44, 9:49 and 10:55.
Answer: **10**.
About this puzzle
An ordinary analogue clock keeps perfect time. Between 12 noon and 12 midnight, how many times do its hour hand and minute hand pass over each other?
Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.
Similar puzzles: Puzzle 005: Digital Digits, Puzzle 008: Farm Work, Puzzle 011: Arc and Line, Puzzle 013: Sinking Ship
All Professor Layton and the Curious Village puzzles
FAQ
What is the answer to Puzzle 005, Clock Hands, in Professor Layton and the Curious Village?
The answer is 10. This is the European (UK) version of Puzzle 005.
Where do you find Puzzle 005 in Curious Village?
Puzzle 005 appears in Chapter 1, in the Village Square area.
How many picarats is Curious Village Puzzle 005 worth?
50 picarats.
Is Puzzle 005 the same in the North American version?
No. In the North American version, Puzzle 005 is Digital Digits, which asks you to count repeated digits on a digital clock.
Sources
- Professor Layton Wiki (Fandom): Puzzle:Clock Hands
- StrategyWiki: Professor Layton and the Curious Village/Puzzles 1-25
- Professor Layton Wiki (Fandom): Module:PuzzleData/CV
Facts checked on November 14, 2026
Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.