The hour hand of the clock moves 360 degrees in 12 hours.
The quantity of degrees the hour hand moves per hour is in this way 360/12 = 30 degrees.
The hour hand of the clock moves 360 degrees in 12 *60 = 720 minutes.
The quantity of degrees the hour hand moves every minute is accordingly 360/720 = 1/2 degrees.
So the hour hand moves 1/2 degree for each minute.
The minute hand moves 360 degrees in a one hour.
The quantity of degrees the minute hand moves every minute is accordingly 360/60 = 6 degrees.
At 5:44, the quantity of minutes the hour hand has moved is 5 * 60 + 44 = 344 minutes.
At a half degree for each minute, the hour hand has moved .5 * 344 = 172 degrees.
At 5:44, the quantity of minutes the minute hand has moved is 44 minutes.
At 6 degrees for each minute, the minute hand has moved 6 * 44 = 264 degrees.
The angle between the minute hand and the hour hand is along these lines 264 degrees minus 172 degrees = 92 degrees.
Since that angle is under the 180 degrees, it must be the littler edge between the hour hand the minute