What is the equation of the line representing the hour hand at 4 o’clock?
x - √3y = 0
√3x - y = 0
x + √3y = 0
√3x + y = 0
Correct answer: x + √3y = 0
Solution
At 4 o'clock the hour hand is 120 deg clockwise from 12 (the +y axis), i.e. at -30 deg from the +x axis, with slope tan(-30) = -1/sqrt(3). The line through the origin is y = -x/sqrt(3), i.e. x + sqrt(3)y = 0.