2008 NLCS question

[Northdad]

Zac had a 24 hour digital clock.
2am is shown as 02:00 and 8.35pm is shown as 20:35.
The numbers glow in the dark
The numbers are displayed as shown.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 (shown in digital format)

what is the time when the glow from the clock is least
what is the time when the glow from the clock is greatest

[Tinkers]

You need to think how many 'bars' (for want of a better word) each number contains. So 1 has 2 bars, 2 has5 bars etc.
Then think of a combination that has the lowest number of bars and the highest number of bars, bearing in mind it is time and they are restrictions on what numbers are used in some positions.

[nyr]

Could it be 11:11 and 08:08?

My guess is that each 1 consists of two vertical cells being lit, so eight cells are lit when it's 11:11.

Again a guess. Each 0 consists of two horizontal and four vertical cells being lit and each 8 consists of three horizontal and four vertical cells being lit, so twenty six cells are lit when it's 08:08.

Sorry, Tinkers has also an answer while I was still typing mine.

nyr

[Tinkers]

Could it be 11:11 and 08:08?

My guess is that each 1 consists of two vertical cells being lit, so eight cells are lit when it's 11:11.

Again a guess. Each 0 consists of two horizontal and four vertical cells being lit and each 8 consists of three horizontal and four vertical cells being lit, so twenty six cells are lit when it's 08:08.

Sorry, Tinkers has also an answer while I was still typing mine.

nyr

I'd got the same, but didn't want to give the answer straight away so the op could try and work it through logically.

[Northdad]

thanks for that.

Well, it has to be dark so it's unlikely it's dark at 08:08...except if you are in the northern hemisphere in mid-wintertime

So I guest it's 11:11 and 20:08? (again assuming that it is dark at that time?). But then 02:08 is also valid.

So I think this is some kind on logic puzzle rather than a maths question.

[Tinkers]

If you start looking at the logics, then it is going to be daylight at 11:11.

[Northdad]

I agree with the 11:11 as being the answer for the least glow.

For the most glow, there are multiple answers: 02:08, 20:08, 03:08. But I think I guess to be safe you discard 20:08 (in addition to 08:08) as there could be daylight at that time...unless of course you are in a room with good blackout curtains (in which case it's doesn't matter whether there is daylight or not).

As you can tell, I don't like this question very much

[nyr]

With 2 or 3 only five cells are lit. Three Horizontal and two vertical.

[Northdad]

Your are of course correct, nyr...but I guess I am getting hung up about whether there is daylight or not...

As they talk about glowing in the dark, I suppose we have to assume it's a dark room and hence 08:08 is correct....

[nyr]

I find it quite straightforward because I think the question asks about the glow from the clock and not the apparent glow, requiring consideration of ambient light.