Why does snooze only give you 9 min. extra?

Click on:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1361/why-...

On a digital alarm clock, if the snooze is set on nine minutes, the last digit in the time changes. If the snooze was 10 minutes, the last digit would stay the same and confuse the already-groggy dozers.

My alarm clock lets me set how long I want the snooze.

That 9 minutes is like making something 99 cents. Technically it is less than a dollar, but in reality you're paying a dollar. 9 minutes is technically less than 10, but its 1 minute, really what's the difference?

This is one of those questions that are on my list of things to know before I die. Right up there with why hot dogs come in packs of 10 and buns come in packs of 8.

:) Good question :)

Of course on my new alarm clock if you press snooze and then the 'add minute' button it will change it for me.