Write the clock rule
Synthetic clock counts 09:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00, excluding 12:00–13:00. A request arrives 11:40 with a 50-active-minute acknowledgement target. Reaching the target boundary is on time; no weekends or other days are involved.
| Segment | Counted minutes | Remainder |
|---|---|---|
| 11:40–12:00 | 20 | 30 |
| 12:00–13:00 | 0 | 30 |
| 13:00 onward | Need 30 | 0 at 13:30 |
Carry the remainder across the break
- Count until the active window closes
- Skip the excluded interval
- Resume the remaining active minutes
Do not extend the deadline by an unstated pause.
What is the deadline, and is 13:31 on time?
Show the worked answer
13:30. Twenty active minutes before lunch plus thirty after it equal 50;13:31 is one active minute late.
Separate deadline from actual response
| Case | Decision | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 13:30 acknowledgement | On time | Exactly 50 active minutes |
| 13:31 acknowledgement | Late | 51 active minutes elapsed |
Keep the arrival and human acknowledgement timestamps with the clock version. An automated receipt is not the acknowledgement required by this exercise.