Problem Set 43 – Reading Clocks and DurationsClass 5 Maths · Chapter 10 Measuring Time · Problem Set 43 – Maharashtra Board

Summary: Problem Set 43 – Reading Clocks and Durations

The short hand shows the hour and the long hand shows the minutes. Each number on the dial stands for 5 minutes on the minute hand.

Half past = 30 minutes after the hour; quarter past = 15 minutes after; quarter to = 15 minutes before the next hour (4:45 is quarter to five).

To draw a time, put the minute hand first, then place the hour hand — at half past four it sits halfway between 4 and 5.

To find how long something takes, count in easy jumps: to the next full hour, then whole hours, then the leftover minutes.

For journeys that pass noon or midnight, break the time at 12: 9:30 at night to 2:10 the next afternoon = 2 h 30 min + 12 h + 2 h 10 min = 16 h 40 min.

Key points to remember

• Short hand = hours, long hand = minutes
• Each dial number = 5 minutes for the long hand
• Half past = :30
• Quarter past = :15
• Quarter to five = 4:45
• 1 hour = 60 minutes
• Count to the next full hour first
• Break long journeys at 12 noon and 12 midnight

Problem Set 43 – Reading Clocks and Durations – Notes

1. Reading the hands

• The short (hour) hand points to the hour, or just past it.
• The long (minute) hand: on 1 → 5 minutes, on 3 → 15, on 6 → 30, on 9 → 45.
• Minute hand on 4 and hour hand just past 11 → 20 minutes past 11 (11:20).

2. Time words

• Quarter past nine = 9:15. Half past three (three thirty) = 3:30.
• Quarter to five = 15 minutes before 5 = 4:45. Ten to eight = 7:50.
• Twenty past eleven = 11:20.

3. Drawing the hands

• Draw the minute hand first: 30 minutes → pointing at 6; 45 minutes → pointing at 9.
• Then the hour hand: as the minutes pass, it creeps toward the next number.
• At 4:30 it is halfway between 4 and 5; at 4:45 (quarter to five) it is close to 5.

4. How long did it take?

• Jump to the next full hour, then count whole hours, then add the leftover minutes.
• A bus leaves at 6 in the morning and arrives at half past eleven: 6 → 11 is 5 h, 11 → 11:30 is 30 min → 5 h 30 min.
• A show set for 8:45 at night is late by half an hour: 8:45 + 30 min = 9:15 at night.

5. Adding a delay

• Add the minutes to the start time. If the minutes go past 60, change 60 minutes into 1 hour.
• 7:40 + 45 min: 40 + 45 = 85 min = 1 h 25 min → 8:25.
• Say whether it is morning or night — it does not change when you add a few minutes (unless you pass 12).

Formulas at a glance

Key terms

Problem Set 43 – Reading Clocks and Durations – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 10 cards.

Problem Set 43 – Reading Clocks and Durations – MCQ Quiz

10 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study Problem Set 43 – Reading Clocks and Durations

⏱ About 20 minutes

1. Revise (5 min)
   Read a few clock faces: which hand is which, and what each number means for minutes.
2. Solve (10 min)
   Find durations by counting to the next hour, then hours, then minutes.
3. Practise (5 min)
   Do the 4 'Try it yourself' sums, take the quiz and play 🎮 Play.