Time Conversions
Time is everywhere in our lives! From knowing when recess starts to figuring out how long until your birthday, understanding time helps us plan our days. Let's learn how to convert between different units of time!
Understanding Units of Time
Time Comes in Different Sizes!
Just like we use different rulers for different jobs, we use different units to measure time. Seconds for quick things, minutes for short activities, hours for longer events, and days for even bigger chunks of time!
Minutes to Hours
Hours to Days
Days to Weeks
Seconds to Minutes
Converting Minutes to Hours
60 The Magic Number: 60
Since there are 60 minutes in 1 hour, we can use division and multiplication to convert between them!
- Minutes to Hours: Divide by 60
- Hours to Minutes: Multiply by 60
1 Example: Converting 120 Minutes to Hours
120 minutes = ? hours
- We know: 60 minutes = 1 hour
- Divide: 120 / 60 = 2
- So: 120 minutes = 2 hours
Answer: 2 hours
2 Example: Converting 3 Hours to Minutes
3 hours = ? minutes
- We know: 1 hour = 60 minutes
- Multiply: 3 x 60 = 180
- So: 3 hours = 180 minutes
Answer: 180 minutes
Quick Reference: Minutes and Hours
| Minutes | Hours | Think of it as... |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1/2 hour | Half an hour |
| 60 | 1 hour | One full hour |
| 90 | 1 1/2 hours | An hour and a half |
| 120 | 2 hours | Two full hours |
| 180 | 3 hours | Three full hours |
| 240 | 4 hours | Four full hours |
Converting Hours to Days
24 A Day Has 24 Hours
A full day - from midnight to the next midnight - has exactly 24 hours. This is true every single day!
- Hours to Days: Divide by 24
- Days to Hours: Multiply by 24
1 Example: Converting 48 Hours to Days
48 hours = ? days
- We know: 24 hours = 1 day
- Divide: 48 / 24 = 2
- So: 48 hours = 2 days
Answer: 2 days
2 Example: Converting 3 Days to Hours
3 days = ? hours
- We know: 1 day = 24 hours
- Multiply: 3 x 24 = 72
- So: 3 days = 72 hours
Answer: 72 hours
Quick Reference: Hours and Days
| Hours | Days | Think of it as... |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1/2 day | Half a day |
| 24 | 1 day | One full day |
| 48 | 2 days | A whole weekend! |
| 72 | 3 days | Three full days |
| 168 | 7 days | One whole week! |
Understanding Elapsed Time
What is Elapsed Time?
Elapsed time is the amount of time that passes between a start time and an end time. It answers the question: "How long did it take?"
1 Counting On Method
Start at the beginning time and count forward to the end time. This is great for shorter time periods!
Movie starts at 2:00 PM, ends at 4:30 PM. How long is the movie?
- Start at 2:00 PM
- Count 2 hours to get to 4:00 PM
- Count 30 more minutes to get to 4:30 PM
- Total: 2 hours + 30 minutes = 2 hours 30 minutes
Answer: 2 hours and 30 minutes
2 Number Line Method
Draw a timeline and hop from start to end!
School starts at 8:15 AM and ends at 3:15 PM. How long is the school day?
- From 8:15 AM to 12:15 PM = 4 hours (morning)
- From 12:15 PM to 3:15 PM = 3 hours (afternoon)
- Total: 4 + 3 = 7 hours
Answer: 7 hours
Interactive Elapsed Time Clock
See how elapsed time works! Watch the clocks show start and end times.
Solving Time Word Problems
* Steps to Solve Time Word Problems
- Read carefully - What is the question asking?
- Find the important information - What times or durations are given?
- Choose your strategy - Will you add, subtract, or convert?
- Solve and check - Does your answer make sense?
Word Problem 1
- Start time: 4:15 PM
- Add 45 minutes to 4:15
- 4:15 + 45 minutes = 5:00 PM
Answer: Emma finished at 5:00 PM
Word Problem 2
- We know 60 minutes = 1 hour
- 90 minutes = 60 minutes + 30 minutes
- 90 minutes = 1 hour + 30 minutes
Answer: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Word Problem 3
- We know 1 day = 24 hours
- 3 days = 3 x 24 hours
- 3 x 24 = 72 hours
Answer: 72 hours
Try It Yourself: Time Converter
Use this tool to practice converting between different units of time!
Minutes and Hours Converter
Hours and Days Converter
Practice Problems
Test your time conversion skills! Click the correct answer for each problem.
Your Score
Problem 1: Minutes to Hours
Problem 2: Hours to Days
Problem 3: Elapsed Time
How long is the movie?
Problem 4: Word Problem
How many minutes did he practice?
Problem 5: Converting Days to Hours
Problem 6: Mixed Units
Problem 7: Finding End Time
What time does lunch end?
Problem 8: Challenge Problem
How many minutes is that in total?
Check Your Understanding
How many minutes are in 1 hour?
How many hours are in 1 day?
What is "elapsed time"?
What We Learned
Minutes & Hours
60 minutes = 1 hour
Hours & Days
24 hours = 1 day
Elapsed Time
Count from start to end to find how long
Word Problems
Read carefully and choose the right operation
Next Steps
- Practice reading analog and digital clocks throughout the day
- Try calculating elapsed time for your daily activities
- Quiz family members on time conversions
- Look for time problems in everyday situations