Adding Time
To add time, we add the hours together and the minutes together. It helps to line them up in two columns: one for hours and one for minutes.
Key idea
If the minutes add up to 60 or more, change every 60 minutes into 1 hour. Remember: 60 minutes = 1 hour.
When to Regroup
Sometimes the minutes make more than an hour. Then we carry the extra hour over to the hours column. This is just like carrying tens when we add ordinary numbers, but here 60 minutes make one hour instead of ten ones making a ten. Always check the minutes are less than 60 in your final answer.
Worked example
2 hours 45 min + 1 hour 30 min. Minutes: 45 + 30 = 75 min. Since 75 = 60 + 15, that is 1 hour 15 min. Hours: 2 + 1 + 1 = 4. Answer: 4 hours 15 minutes.
Remember
- Add hours to hours, minutes to minutes.
- 60 minutes = 1 hour.
- Carry the extra hour when minutes reach 60.