Telling Time to the Minute

Have you ever looked at an analog clock and wondered exactly what time it is? Telling time to the exact minute is easy once you know a few simple tricks!

Understanding the Clock Face

An analog clock has two main hands:

• The Hour Hand (Short Hand): This points to the hour. If it is pointing between two numbers, the hour is the smaller number (the one it just passed).
• The Minute Hand (Long Hand): This points to the minutes.

Here is the secret to reading the minute hand:

• Each big number ($1, 2, 3...$) on the clock stands for $5$ minutes.
• Each small mark between the numbers stands for $1$ minute.
• There are exactly $60$ minutes in one full hour.

How to Read the Exact Minute

Follow these easy steps to read the time:

1. Find the Hour: Look at the short hand. What number did it just pass? That is your hour.
2. Count by 5s: Look at the long minute hand. Start at the top of the clock at the $12$ (which is $0$ minutes). Count by $5$s for every big number you pass until you get to the big number right before the minute hand.
3. Count by 1s: Once you reach that closest big number, count the tiny marks one by one to find the exact minute.

Let's Look at Some Examples!

Example 1: The short hand is past the $2$. The long hand is past the $9$, on the second small mark.

• Hour: The short hand passed the $2$, so the hour is $2$.
• Minutes: Count by $5$s to the $9$ ($9 \times 5 = 45$). Then count $2$ more small marks ($45 + 1 + 1 = 47$).
• Time: The time is 2:47.

Example 2: The short hand is just past the $10$. The long hand is past the $1$, on the third small mark.

• Hour: The short hand just passed the $10$, so the hour is $10$.
• Minutes: Count by $5$s to the $1$ (which is $5$ minutes). Then count $3$ more small marks ($5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8$).
• Time: The time is 10:08.

Example 3: How many minutes past $3$ is it if the minute hand is on the second mark after the $4$?

• Count by $5$s to the $4$ ($4 \times 5 = 20$).
• Count $2$ more small marks ($20 + 2 = 22$).
• Time: It is $22$ minutes past $3$, or 3:22.