Good Timekeepers: Arranging Clocks by Relative Value

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The discussion focuses on evaluating the performance of five clocks tested against the WWV signal at noon. Participants are asked to arrange the clocks based on their accuracy as timekeepers, emphasizing the importance of consistency over mere proximity to the correct time. The concept of standard deviation is introduced as a potential metric for assessing the clocks' reliability. A clock that consistently loses one minute per hour may be deemed more valuable than one that fluctuates within five minutes of the correct time. The key takeaway is that the rate of deviation from the true time is crucial in determining a clock's overall effectiveness.
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A naval destroyer is testing five clocks. Exactly at noon, as determined by the WWV signal, on the successive days of a week the clocks read as follows.

[Attached Image]

How would you arrange these five clocks in the order of their relative value as good timekeepers? Justify your choice.
 

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Heard of standard deviation?
Also rememebr that you don't necessarily care what the time says as long as you know how fast/slow it is from the real time and what the rate is.
A clock that loses EXACTLY 1minute/hour might be better than something which is always within 5mins of the correct time.
 

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