Time and Money

Reading Clocks: Hours and Minutes#

Telling time is one of the most useful math skills in everyday life! There are two types of clocks — analogü (the kind with hands) and digital (the kind that shows numbers). Let us learn how to read both!

Parts of an Analogü Clock#

An analogü clock has a round face with numbers 1 through 12 arranged in a circle. There are usually two hands:

• The hour hand — the shorter hand. It moves slowly and points to the hour.
• The minute hand — the longer hand. It moves faster and tells the minutes.

Some clocks also have a second hand — a very thin, fast-moving hand that counts seconds.

Reading the Hour#

The short hand (hour hand) points to the hour. When it points directly at a number, it is exactly that hour.

• Short hand on 3, long hand on 12 → 3 o'clock (3:00)
• Short hand on 7, long hand on 12 → 7 o'clock (7:00)

Reading the Minutes#

The long hand (minute hand) moves around the whole clock every hour. Each number on the clock equals 5 minutes (because there are 60 minutes in an hour ÷ 12 numbers = 5 minutes per section).

Reading Time to 5 Minutes#

Example: Hour hand between 4 and 5, minute hand on 3.

• Hour: 4 (the hand just passed 4)
• Minutes: 3 × 5 = 15
• Time: 4:15 (four fifteen)

Reading a Digital Clock#

A digital clock shows time with numbers: hours : minutes

• 3:00 = three o'clock
• 7:30 = seven thirty
• 10:45 = ten forty-five

Digital clocks are easier to read, but analogü clocks are still everywhere in the world, so it is important to be able to read both!