Time and timetables
Telling the time
We can tell the time from a clock and work out how much time has passed. Time is measured in minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years.
Units of time
We measure time in different units: ā¢ Minutes and hours for short times. ā¢ Days and weeks for longer times. ā¢ Months and years for the longest times. There are 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 7 days in a week.
Telling the time on a clock
A clock has a short hour hand and a long minute hand. ā¢ Minute hand on 12 ā o'clock. ā¢ Minute hand on 3 ā quarter past (15 minutes past). ā¢ Minute hand on 6 ā half past (30 minutes past).
Time intervals
A time interval is how much time passes between two times. From 3:00 to 3:30 is 30 minutes. From 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock is 2 hours. We can also find intervals in days, weeks and years.
Worked examples
Telling an o'clock time
- The hour hand points to 3.
- The minute hand points to 12.
- Minute hand on 12 means o'clock.
Answer: It is 3 o'clock.
A time interval in minutes
- Start at 3:00 and finish at 3:30.
- Count on from 3:00 to 3:30.
- That is 30 minutes.
Answer: 30 minutes have passed.
How many days in three weeks
- There are 7 days in one week.
- Three weeks is 3 Ć 7.
- 3 Ć 7 = 21.
Answer: Three weeks is 21 days.
How many years to wait
- You must be 10 to ride, and Nabil is 8.
- Take 8 away from 10.
- 10 ā 8 = 2.
Answer: Nabil must wait 2 years.
Where you see this in real life
- Reading the clock to know when break time starts.
- Working out how long until your birthday.
- Counting the days until a holiday.
Key words
- Time interval
- How much time passes between two times.
- Hour
- A unit of time equal to 60 minutes.
- O'clock
- A time when the minute hand points to 12.
- Quarter past
- 15 minutes past the hour.
- Half past
- 30 minutes past the hour.