Year 5: Reading and using timetables
Part of the Year 5 statistics chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Reading and using timetables
A timetable shows when things happen, such as when a bus leaves and arrives, when a swimming session starts, or when a lesson begins and ends. Each row or column is one bus, one stop or one lesson.
To find when a bus reaches a stop, find the row for that bus, then read across to the column for the stop. To find how long something lasts, subtract the start time from the finish time.
Bus timetable: buses that leave Hilltop.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key ideas
- Find the row for the bus, then read across to the stop.
- Each bus keeps its row: do not mix two buses.
- A duration is the finish time minus the start time, counted in minutes.
- Use the 24-hour clock in timetables, and be ready to write the time with am or pm.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Subtract the start time from the finish time to find how long it lasts.
- Write the start time. The bus journey starts at 08:10.08:10
- Write the finish time. The bus journey finishes at 08:32.08:32
- Find the length of time. Subtract the start time from the finish time, counting in minutes.512 − 490 = 22 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 22 minutes is 22 minutes.22 minutes
Check. 490 + 22 = 512, which is the finish time. ✓
Watch out. Do not subtract the hours and the minutes separately when the minutes go past 60.
| Session | Day | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early swim | Monday | 06:45 | 07:45 |
| Lunchtime swim | Tuesday | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| Junior club | Wednesday | 16:30 | 17:45 |
| Family swim | Saturday | 10:30 | 12:00 |
| Adult lengths | Sunday | 08:00 | 09:15 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Subtract the start time from the finish time to find how long it lasts.
- Write the start time. The family swim starts at 10:30.10:30
- Write the finish time. The family swim finishes at 12:00.12:00
- Find the length of time. Subtract the start time from the finish time, counting in minutes.720 − 630 = 90 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 90 minutes is 1 hour 30 minutes.1 hour 30 minutes
Check. 630 + 90 = 720, which is the finish time. ✓
Watch out. Do not subtract the hours and the minutes separately when the minutes go past 60.
| Lesson | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Register | 08:50 | 09:00 |
| Maths | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| Break | 10:00 | 10:20 |
| English | 10:20 | 11:20 |
| Science | 11:20 | 12:05 |
| Lunch | 12:05 | 13:05 |
| Topic | 13:05 | 14:05 |
| Music | 14:05 | 15:00 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Subtract the start time from the finish time to find how long it lasts.
- Write the start time. The lessons from maths to topic starts at 09:00.09:00
- Write the finish time. The lessons from maths to topic finishes at 14:05.14:05
- Find the length of time. Subtract the start time from the finish time, counting in minutes.845 − 540 = 305 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 305 minutes is 5 hours 5 minutes.5 hours 5 minutes
Check. 540 + 305 = 845, which is the finish time. ✓
Watch out. Do not subtract the hours and the minutes separately when the minutes go past 60.
Watch out
Watch out: do not mix up two buses. Take the time from the row of the bus you are asked about. Also, a time after 12 is still on the same 24-hour clock: 13:05 is 1:05 pm.
Exercise 11E Reading and using timetables
Non-calculator| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the 08:40 bus, read across to Mill Lane, then add 6 minutes.
- Find the 08:40 bus. It leaves Hilltop at 08:40.Bus 3, 08:40
- Read across to Mill Lane. Mill Lane is the second stop.Mill Lane column
- Read the time. The bus takes 6 minutes from Hilltop to Mill Lane.08:40 + 6 minutes = 08:46
- Write the answer. 08:46
Check. 08:40 + 6 minutes = 08:46. ✓
Watch out. Read along the 08:40 row, not the 08:10 row.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the bus, then read along to the The Green.
- Find the row for the bus that leaves Hilltop at 09:20. Each row is one bus.Bus 4
- Read across to The Green. Find the column for the stop.The Green
- Read the time where they meet. The time in that box is when the bus reaches the stop.09:35
- Write the answer. 09:35
Check. Start at 09:20 and add 15 minutes: 09:35. ✓
Watch out. Read along the same row for the same bus, so the times belong together.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the Station column, then find the buses that arrive by 08:45.
- Read the Station times. Each bus arrives at Station at the time in the last column.07:40 bus 08:02, 08:10 bus 08:32, 08:40 bus 09:02, 09:20 bus 09:42, 10:00 bus 10:22
- Find the buses that arrive by 08:45. Priya needs to arrive by 08:45, so the bus must arrive at or before 08:45.07:40 bus (08:02), 08:10 bus (08:32)
- Choose the latest one. The latest of these buses is the one that leaves Hilltop last.latest = 08:10 bus
- Write the answer. The 08:10 bus, which arrives at 08:32
Check. The 08:40 bus arrives at 09:02, which is after 08:45, so it is too late. ✓
Watch out. The latest bus that is still on time is the best one to catch.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Read the 08:40 bus at Mill Lane and at Station, then find the time between them.
- Read the bus at Mill Lane. Find the 08:40 bus in the Mill Lane column.08:46
- Read the bus at Station. Find the 08:40 bus in the Station column.09:02
- Find the time between them. Subtract the earlier time from the later time, in minutes.542 − 526 = 16 minutes
- Write the answer. 16 minutes
Check. The whole journey from Hilltop is 22 minutes, and 22 − 6 = 16 minutes is the part from Mill Lane. ✓
Watch out. Count only the time from Mill Lane to Station, not from Hilltop.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the two departure times from Hilltop, then find the time between them.
- Read the first departure. The 08:10 bus leaves Hilltop at 08:10.08:10
- Read the second departure. The 08:40 bus leaves Hilltop at 08:40.08:40
- Find the difference. Subtract the earlier time from the later time.520 − 490 = 30
- Write the answer. 30 minutes
Check. 08:10 + 30 minutes = 08:40. ✓
Watch out. Count the minutes between the two times, not the hours.
| Bus | Hilltop | Mill Lane | The Green | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 1 | 07:40 | 07:46 | 07:55 | 08:02 |
| Bus 2 | 08:10 | 08:16 | 08:25 | 08:32 |
| Bus 3 | 08:40 | 08:46 | 08:55 | 09:02 |
| Bus 4 | 09:20 | 09:26 | 09:35 | 09:42 |
| Bus 5 | 10:00 | 10:06 | 10:15 | 10:22 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Look down the Station column for 08:32, then read across to the bus name.
- Find 08:32 in the Station column. The bus reaches Station at 08:32.08:32
- Read across to the bus name. The bus name is at the start of the same row.Bus 2
- Check the Hilltop time. That row says the bus leaves Hilltop at 08:10.leaves Hilltop at 08:10
- Write the answer. Bus 2
Check. 08:10 + 22 minutes = 08:32. ✓
Watch out. Find the time in the correct column, then read along to the bus name.
| Session | Day | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early swim | Monday | 06:45 | 07:45 |
| Lunchtime swim | Tuesday | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| Junior club | Wednesday | 16:30 | 17:45 |
| Family swim | Saturday | 10:30 | 12:00 |
| Adult lengths | Sunday | 08:00 | 09:15 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Subtract the start time from the finish time to find how long it lasts.
- Write the start time. The lunchtime swim starts at 12:15.12:15
- Write the finish time. The lunchtime swim finishes at 13:00.13:00
- Find the length of time. Subtract the start time from the finish time, counting in minutes.780 − 735 = 45 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 45 minutes is 45 minutes.45 minutes
Check. 735 + 45 = 780, which is the finish time. ✓
Watch out. Do not subtract the hours and the minutes separately when the minutes go past 60.
| Session | Day | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early swim | Monday | 06:45 | 07:45 |
| Lunchtime swim | Tuesday | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| Junior club | Wednesday | 16:30 | 17:45 |
| Family swim | Saturday | 10:30 | 12:00 |
| Adult lengths | Sunday | 08:00 | 09:15 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the length of each session, then add them together.
- Find the Early swim. It starts at 06:45 and finishes at 07:45.60 minutes
- Find the Junior club. It starts at 16:30 and finishes at 17:45.75 minutes
- Add the two lengths. Add the minutes together.60 + 75 = 135 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 135 minutes is 2 hours 15 minutes.2 hours 15 minutes
Check. 60 + 75 = 135, and 2 hours is 120 minutes, so 15 more minutes makes 2 hours 15 minutes. ✓
Watch out. Add the minutes, then change the total to hours and minutes.
| Session | Day | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early swim | Monday | 06:45 | 07:45 |
| Lunchtime swim | Tuesday | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| Junior club | Wednesday | 16:30 | 17:45 |
| Family swim | Saturday | 10:30 | 12:00 |
| Adult lengths | Sunday | 08:00 | 09:15 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the length of every session, then choose the longest.
- Find the length of each session. Subtract the start time from the finish time.Early swim 60 minutes, Lunchtime swim 45 minutes, Junior club 75 minutes, Family swim 90 minutes, Adult lengths 75 minutes
- Choose the longest. Family swim is the longest, at 90 minutes.longest = 90 minutes
- Write the answer. Family swim, 1 hour 30 minutes
Check. 10:30 to 12:00 is 1 hour 30 minutes. ✓
Watch out. Compare the lengths, not the start times.
| Session | Day | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early swim | Monday | 06:45 | 07:45 |
| Lunchtime swim | Tuesday | 12:15 | 13:00 |
| Junior club | Wednesday | 16:30 | 17:45 |
| Family swim | Saturday | 10:30 | 12:00 |
| Adult lengths | Sunday | 08:00 | 09:15 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Change the 12-hour clock: 16:30 is 4:30 in the afternoon, so write pm.
- Write the time in 24-hour form. The Junior club starts at 16:30.16:30
- Take 12 from the hours. Times after 12 noon use the afternoon, so take away 12 hours.16 − 12 = 4
- Add am or pm. Times from midday until midnight are pm.4:30 pm
- Write the answer. 4:30 pm
Check. 4:30 pm is 4 and a half hours after 12 noon. ✓
Watch out. Times after 12 noon are pm, and the hour is 12 less than on the 24-hour clock.
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Times before 12 noon are am. Write 08:00 as a 12-hour time.
- Write the time in 24-hour form. The Adult lengths start at 08:00.08:00
- Keep the hour, because it is before 12 noon. Morning times do not change, but drop the 0.8
- Add am. Times before 12 noon are am.8:00 am
- Write the answer. 8:00 am
Check. 8:00 am is in the morning, before midday. ✓
Watch out. Drop the 0 in front of the hour in the 12-hour time.
| Lesson | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Register | 08:50 | 09:00 |
| Maths | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| Break | 10:00 | 10:20 |
| English | 10:20 | 11:20 |
| Science | 11:20 | 12:05 |
| Lunch | 12:05 | 13:05 |
| Topic | 13:05 | 14:05 |
| Music | 14:05 | 15:00 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Subtract the start time from the finish time to find how long it lasts.
- Write the start time. Break starts at 10:00.10:00
- Write the finish time. Break finishes at 10:20.10:20
- Find the length of time. Subtract the start time from the finish time, counting in minutes.620 − 600 = 20 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 20 minutes is 20 minutes.20 minutes
Check. 600 + 20 = 620, which is the finish time. ✓
Watch out. Do not subtract the hours and the minutes separately when the minutes go past 60.
| Lesson | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Register | 08:50 | 09:00 |
| Maths | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| Break | 10:00 | 10:20 |
| English | 10:20 | 11:20 |
| Science | 11:20 | 12:05 |
| Lunch | 12:05 | 13:05 |
| Topic | 13:05 | 14:05 |
| Music | 14:05 | 15:00 |
Key words. A comparison says how much more or how much less one value is than another. The difference is found by subtracting the smaller value from the bigger one.
Method. Find how long English lasts, then how long Science lasts, and subtract.
- Find the length of English. English starts at 10:20 and finishes at 11:20.60 minutes
- Find the length of Science. Science starts at 11:20 and finishes at 12:05.45 minutes
- Subtract the shorter time from the longer time. The difference tells you how much longer English is.60 − 45 = 15 minutes
- Write the answer. 15 minutes
Check. 45 + 15 = 60. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller length from the bigger one.
| Lesson | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Register | 08:50 | 09:00 |
| Maths | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| Break | 10:00 | 10:20 |
| English | 10:20 | 11:20 |
| Science | 11:20 | 12:05 |
| Lunch | 12:05 | 13:05 |
| Topic | 13:05 | 14:05 |
| Music | 14:05 | 15:00 |
Key words. A timetable shows when things happen. A duration is how long something lasts: the finish time minus the start time.
Method. Find the whole time from Maths to Music, then take away Break and Lunch.
- Find the whole time from the start of Maths to the end of Music. Subtract 09:00 from 15:00.900 − 540 = 360 minutes
- Find the time for Break and Lunch. Break is 20 minutes and Lunch is 60 minutes.20 + 60 = 80 minutes
- Take the breaks away. The time left is the time in lessons.360 − 80 = 280 minutes
- Write the answer in hours and minutes. 280 minutes is 4 hours 40 minutes.4 hours 40 minutes
Check. 4 hours 40 minutes plus 1 hour 20 minutes is 6 hours. ✓
Watch out. Take the breaks away first. Do not forget Lunch, which is the longest break.