3
Quarter past, quarter to
Discover Mathematics P2: Term 1, Lessons 51–60
GoalRead and show quarter past and quarter to times on analog and digital clocks.
New words
quarter · one of four equal partsquarter past · 15 minutes after the hourquarter to · 15 minutes before the next hourdigital clock · a clock that shows the time in numbers
Explanation
A quarter is one of four equal parts. A quarter of an hour is 15 minutes. At quarter past the minute hand is on 3 and the digital time ends in 15 minutes. At 5:15 we say quarter past five. At quarter to the minute hand is on 9, which is 45 minutes past the hour or 15 minutes before the next hour. At 9:45 we say quarter to ten, because ten o’clock comes in 15 minutes.
Worked examples
The minute hand is on 3: quarter past five, 5:15.
The minute hand is on 9: quarter to ten, 9:45. In 15 minutes it will be 10 o’clock.
On a digital clock, quarter to two is 1:45.
Class activity
Quarter pizza. Cut a round flatbread or a paper circle into 4 equal quarters. Put them on a paper clock so that each quarter is the space between 12 and 3, 3 and 6, 6 and 9, 9 and 12. Say the quarter-hour times together: quarter past, half past, quarter to, o’clock.
Practice
1
What time does the clock show?
Quarter past eleven, 11:15.
2
What time does the clock show?
Quarter to seven, 6:45.
3
The digital clock shows this time. How do you say it?
Quarter to three.
4
How many minutes are in a quarter of an hour?
15 minutes.
5
Salma starts football at quarter past 4. Write the time in digits.
4:15.