Some Helpful Tools
Each mark represents 1 second. If you were to start at the mark just to the right of the number 12 and count all the marks around the clock until you reach 12, you would have counted 60 marks.
This means:
Telling Time
The minute hand is on 12, and the hour hand is on 3.
12 x 5 = 60 (Note: There are five marks from one number to the next).
The time is 3:00 (since 60 minutes represent 1 hour).
The minute hand is 2 marks past 11.
11 x 5 = 55 + 2 = 57
The time is 3:57
Here are other says to tell time.
Example 1: Let's say the time is 3:40.
Since the minute hand is past the halfway point, we could say: 60 - 40 = 20. This means it is 20 minutes until 4 o'clock, or we could say 20 minutes to 4.
However, it would still be written as 3:40.
Example 2: The time is 3:50.
We could say: 60 - 50 = 10.
This means it is 10 minutes until 4 o'clock or just 10 minutes to 4.
It would still be written as 3:50.
Example 3: The time is 3:57.
We could say: 60 - 57 = 3. This means it is 3 minutes until 4 o'clock, or we could say 3 minutes to 4.
It would still be written as 3:57.
The minute hand is on 4.
4 x 5 = 20
The time is 3:20.
The minute hand is on 6.
6 x 5 = 30.
The time is 3:30.
The minute hand is on 8.
8 x 5 = 40
The time is 3:40.
The minute hand is on 10.
10 x 5 = 50
The time is 3:50.
The minute hand is on the 12.
12 x 5 = 60.
It is now 4:00.
The minute hand is on 1.
1 x 5 = 5
The time is 3:05.
This section will cover the fundamentals of telling time.
Clock Facts
60 seconds = 1 minute
60 minutes = one hour
Telling time is basically a matter of multiplying times 5 when the minute hand is on the boldface marks located directly above the numbers and adding when the minute hand is on all the other marks.
To make this a bit easier, we've made the minute hand blue and the hour hand red.
Time is written in the following format: hour:minutes
Let's try some examples:
A Step Further
Notice how the minute hand moves to the right around the clock. This direction is called clockwise.
Problem Solving
Below are some practical reasons for calculating time.
Adding Time
Example 1:
It usually takes Fred 25 minutes to mow his lawn. If Fred begins mowing his lawn at 7:15 p.m., what time will he get finished?
Since the time required is less than 60 minutes, just add the start time and the
time required together to get the answer.
Therefore, the time the task is completed is 7:40 p.m.
Example 2:
The drive from Fort Worth, Texas to Tulsa, Oklahoma is approximately 4 hours
and 26 minutes. If Melanie leaves Fort Worth at 9:30 a.m., what time will she
arrive in Tulsa?
To find the answer, add the start time and the time required together. Then
subtract 12 from the unit hour, since 12 hours are shown on a clock.
Therefore, the arrival time is 1:56 p.m.
Subtracting Time
Example 1:
If Morgan starts the wash cycle for his clothes at 9:52 and the cycle ends at
10:20, how long is the wash cycle?
A clock contains numbers 1 through 12. There are 5 marks from one number to the next.
Telling Time - Tutorial
Example 2:
Hint: Start with the end time: 10:20 and subtract the start time: 9:52.
Since 52 is larger than 20, borrow one hour from 10 in the hours place. Next, convert
the hour to 60 minutes and add it to the 20 minutes that are already in the minutes
place.
60 + 20 = 80. Now subtract.
80 - 52 = 28
Therefore, the wash cycle is :28 or 28 minutes.
If the action movie Erica watched started at 12:40 and ended at 2:25, what is the running time for the movie?
Remember to start with the end time: 2:25 and subtract the start time: 12:40
Hint: Since 40 is larger than 25, borrow one hour from the hours place and add it to the
minutes in the minutes place. Then subtract.
Hint: A double negative creates a positive.
Now, subtract 12 from 13 since 12 hours are shown on a clock.
13 - 12 = 1
Therefore, the running time for the movie is 1:45 or 1 hour and 45 minutes.
