IMOClass 3 › Time

Time

Reading the Clock

A clock has a short hour hand and a long minute hand. When the minute hand points to 12 it is an o'clock time; to 3 it is quarter past (15 minutes); to 6 it is half past (30 minutes); and to 9 it is quarter to the next hour (45 minutes).

There are 60 minutes in 1 hour.

Example 1: The minute hand is on 3 and the hour hand just past 4. What time is it?
Quarter past 4, that is 4:15.
Example 2: Write half past 6 in numbers.
6:30.
Quick recap
  • Quarter past = 15 min; half past = 30 min; quarter to = 45 min.
  • 1 hour = 60 minutes.
✓ Quick check
Quarter past 4 is the same as ___ ?
Quarter past means 15 minutes, so 4:15.
How many minutes are there in 1 hour?
1 hour = 60 minutes.

Hours, Minutes, Days & Months

To change hours to minutes, multiply by 60. So 2 hours = 120 minutes. A week has 7 days, and a year has 12 months and 365 days. A leap year has 366 days because February has 29 days instead of 28.

Example 1: Change 2 hours into minutes.
2 × 60 = 120 minutes.
Example 2: How many days does a leap year have?
366 days (February has 29 days).
Quick recap
  • Hours to minutes: multiply by 60.
  • Year = 12 months = 365 days; leap year = 366 days.
✓ Quick check
Change 3 hours into minutes.
3 × 60 = 180 minutes.
How many days are there in a week?
A week has 7 days.

Elapsed Time & the Calendar

Elapsed time is how long something lasts — the time from the start to the end. If an activity starts at 9:00 and lasts 3 hours, it ends at 12:00. We also use a calendar to find dates, days and how many days are between two dates.

Example 1: A class starts at 9:00 and lasts 3 hours. When does it end?
9:00 + 3 hours = 12:00.
Example 2: A film runs from 2:30 to 4:30. How long is it?
From 2:30 to 4:30 is 2 hours.
Quick recap
  • Elapsed time = end time − start time.
  • Use the calendar to count days between dates.
✓ Quick check
A match starts at 5 o'clock and lasts 4 hours. When does it end?
5 + 4 = 9 o'clock.
90 minutes is the same as ___ ?
60 minutes is 1 hour, plus 30 minutes = 1 hour 30 minutes.
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