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In real life, it is very useful to be able to work out how long it takes for something to happen, or the actual time when something will take place.

Remember that there are 60 minutes in an hour.

 

Adding or subtracting minutes

Adding or subtracting minutes to or from a time can be simple.

 

15 minutes before 7:30 p.m. is simply 7:15 p.m.

15 minutes after 7:30 p.m. is simply 7:45 p.m.

 

Be careful when you have to cross a whole hour.

Go to the whole hour first and then go on.

 

 

15 minutes before 7:10 p.m. is 6:55 p.m.

(Go back 10 minutes to 7 o'clock and then 5 minutes further back.)

 

15 minutes after 7:50 p.m. is 8:05 p.m.

(Go forwards 10 minutes to 8 o'clock and then 5 minutes more.)

 

Example

A TV programme starts at 4:25 p.m. and ends at 6:10 p.m.

How long does it last?

 

Answer

From 4:25 p.m. to 5 o'clock is 35 minutes.

From 5 o'clock to 6 o'clock is 1 hour.

From 6 o'clock to 6:10 p.m. is 10 minutes.

35 minutes + 10 minutes + 1 hour = 1 hour and 45 minutes.

 

Does that make sense?

 

boy thinking

 

Let's have a go at some questions now.

10 questions