Decoding a string based on alphanumeric substitution rules

Use the standard angular formula for the relative position of clock hands: ⟨MATH⟩θ = |30H - 5.5M|⟨/MATH⟩, where H denotes hours and M denotes minutes.

Plug in H = 4 and M = 25: θ = |30(4) - 5.5(25)| θ = |120 - 137.5| θ = |-17.5| = 17.5^\circ[cite: 1656, 1657].

Alternatively, compute using positions: At 25 minutes, the minute hand is exactly on the 5 index (150^\circ). The hour hand started at 4 (120^\circ) and moved forward by 0.5^\circ per minute: 120 + (25 × 0.5) = 132.5^\circ. Difference = 150 - 132.5 = 17.5^\circ.

Answer: (c).