Reading Math
Reading math involves expressing the same time in multiple equivalent ways: 10:43 can also be read as '43 minutes after 10' or '17 minutes to 11.' Similarly, 3:45 p.m. is 'a quarter to four in the afternoon' and 6:15 a.m. is 'a quarter past six in the morning.' This flexibility in reading time is part of Saxon Math Intermediate 4 and builds the 4th grade math communication skill of connecting symbolic notation to verbal language, which extends to reading mathematical expressions of all kinds.
Key Concepts
Property We can write or say the time in different ways: • $10:43$ • 43 minutes after $10:00$ • 17 minutes to $11:00$.
Examples The time $3:45$ p.m. can also be expressed as 'a quarter to four in the afternoon.' The time $6:15$ a.m. is often called 'a quarter after six in the morning.' If a clock shows $5:50$ p.m., you can also say it's 'ten minutes to six in the evening.'.
Explanation Time is a master of disguise! The same moment can be described in multiple ways, like saying '$8:45$' or 'a quarter to 9.' Knowing these different phrases is like being fluent in the secret languages of a clock. It helps you understand what anyone means, no matter how they say it, and makes you a true time wizard.
Common Questions
How do you say a time like 3:45 in different ways?
3:45 can be said as 'three forty-five,' 'forty-five minutes after three,' or 'a quarter to four.' All three express the same time, just from different reference points.
What does 'a quarter to' mean for telling time?
'A quarter to' means 15 minutes before the next hour. A quarter to four means 3:45. A quarter to seven means 6:45. There are 60 minutes in an hour, and 15 is one-quarter of 60.
What does 'a quarter past' mean for telling time?
'A quarter past' means 15 minutes after the hour. A quarter past six is 6:15. Half past means 30 minutes after — half past eight is 8:30.
How do you express time as 'minutes to' an hour?
Subtract the current minutes from 60. If the clock shows 10:43, then 60 − 43 = 17, so it is '17 minutes to 11.' This counts how many minutes remain until the next hour.
When do students learn to read time in different ways?
Reading time in multiple formats is a 4th grade skill in Saxon Math Intermediate 4. Students learn both digital formats (3:45) and spoken phrases ('quarter to four') and practice converting between them.
Why is it useful to express time in multiple ways?
Different contexts use different time language. A bus schedule might say 3:45, while a person might say 'quarter to four.' Being fluent in both helps students communicate clearly and understand real-world schedules.