Units of time and how they connect
Time is measured in different units, from tiny seconds to long years. Knowing how they connect helps us change from one unit to another, which we need for reading timetables, planning a day, or working out how long we have.
| 1 minute | = 60 seconds |
| 1 hour | = 60 minutes |
| 1 day | = 24 hours |
| 1 week | = 7 days |
| 1 year | = 12 months = 365 days |
Worked example
How many minutes are in 3 hours?
1 hour = 60 minutes, so 3 × 60 = 180 minutes.
Bigger to smaller, smaller to bigger
To go from a big unit to a small unit, multiply. To go from a small unit to a big unit, divide. Example: 48 hours ÷ 24 = 2 days. Another example: 2 weeks = 2 × 7 = 14 days. Always ask yourself whether the answer should be bigger or smaller than the number you started with.
Remember
- 60 seconds = 1 minute, 60 minutes = 1 hour.
- 24 hours = 1 day, 7 days = 1 week.
- Big to small: multiply. Small to big: divide.