When viewing an analog clock in a mirror, the image is horizontally flipped. The mirror image shows quarter to four, which is 3:45.
For analog clocks, the mirror reflection follows the principle:
Actual time = 12:00 - Mirror time
This is because the clock face is symmetric about the vertical axis passing through 12 and 6.
Given mirror time = 3:45
Actual time = 12:00 - 3:45
Converting to calculate:
12:00−3:45=11:60−3:45
=8:15
At 8:15 on the actual clock:
- Hour hand: slightly past 8
- Minute hand: at 3 (pointing to 15 minutes)
When reflected in a mirror:
- Hour hand appears slightly before 4 (from the mirrored perspective)
- Minute hand appears at 9 (pointing to 45 minutes)
This gives the mirror image of 3:45 (quarter to four).
Therefore, the correct time shown by the clock is 8:15.