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Primary Maths · Year 2Chapter 7 · Time
Year 2 · Time · Lesson 7.5

Year 2: Comparing and ordering times

Part of the Year 2 time chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

7.5

Comparing and ordering times

Year 2
Compare and sequence intervals of time, Say which time is earlier or later
A day at the seaside. Some things happen before others.

Some times are earlier and some are later.

A time with the smaller hour is earlier. If the hours are the same, the smaller minutes come first.

We can also find how long something takes. Count on to the next hour. Then count on the minutes.

From 2:15 to 2:45 is 30 minutes.

A123456789101112B123456789101112
Clock A shows 2:15. Clock B shows 2:45. From A to B is 30 minutes.

Key ideas

  • A time with the earlier hour comes first.
  • If the hours match, the smaller minutes come first.
  • To find how long something takes, count on.
  • Count on to the next hour, then count on the minutes.
Worked example 7.5.1
Which is earlier: 3:20 or 3:45? Look at the clocks.
A123456789101112B123456789101112

Method. Compare the hours first. If the hours match, compare the minutes.

  1. Read both times. Write each time with numbers.
    3:20 and 3:45
  2. Compare the hours. The earlier hour comes first.
    3 and 3
  3. Compare the minutes if needed. If the hours are the same, the smaller minutes come first.
    20 and 45 minutes
  4. Write the earlier time.
    3:20

Check. The other time is later, so 3:20 is right. ✓

Watch out. Look at the hour first. Then look at the minutes.

Worked example 7.5.2
Ali starts at 2:15 and finishes at 2:40. How many minutes is that?
A123456789101112B123456789101112

Method. Count on from the first time to the second time. Count the minutes.

  1. Start at the first time. Put your finger on the first time.
    2:15
  2. Count on in fives to the second time. From 15 minutes to 40 minutes past 2.
    40 − 15 = 25
  3. Write the answer.
    25

Check. Count back: 25 minutes on from 2:15 reaches 2:40. ✓

Watch out. Count on to the next hour first. Then count on the minutes.

Worked example 7.5.3
Look at the clocks. Put the times in order, earliest first. Write them as numbers.
A123456789101112B123456789101112C123456789101112

Method. Read each time. Then put them in order, earliest first.

  1. Read each clock. Write each time with numbers.
    10:30, 9:45, 10:05
  2. Put them in order. The earliest time has the smallest hour. If the hours match, the smaller minutes come first.
    9:45, 10:05, 10:30
  3. Write the answer.
    9:45, 10:05, 10:30

Check. There are 3 times in the picture and 3 times in the answer. ✓

Watch out. Look at the hour first. 9:45 is earlier than 10:05.

Watch out

Watch out: 9:45 is earlier than 10:05, even though 45 is more than 5. Look at the hour first.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Set two paper clocks, one to a start time and one to a finish time. Count the minutes between them together, in fives first.

Exercise 7E  Comparing and ordering times

Non-calculator
1
FLook at clocks A and B. Which is later? Write the time as numbers.
A123456789101112B123456789101112
2
FLook at clocks A and B. Which is earlier? Write the time as numbers.
A123456789101112B123456789101112
3
FHow many minutes are there from clock A to clock B?
A123456789101112B123456789101112
4
PSHow many minutes from clock A to clock B?
A123456789101112B123456789101112
5
PSHow many minutes from clock A to clock B? The second clock is in the next hour.
A123456789101112B123456789101112
6
PSLook at clocks A, B and C. Put the times in order, earliest first. Write them as numbers.
A123456789101112B123456789101112C123456789101112
7
PSMo’s lesson starts at clock A and ends at clock B. How many minutes long is the lesson?
A123456789101112B123456789101112
8
FWhich is longer: 45 minutes or 1 hour? Write the answer.
123456789101112
9
PSRavi starts reading at clock A and stops at clock B. How many minutes does he read?
A123456789101112B123456789101112
10
PSLin starts at 3:55 and finishes at 4:10. How many minutes is that?
A123456789101112B123456789101112
11
RRavi says 8:45 is later than 9:00. Is he right? Write Yes or No.
A123456789101112B123456789101112

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