Quarter Hours - Definition, Examples, Quiz, FAQ, Trivia
Learn to tell time using quarter hours with simple explanations and practice activities
What is a Quarter Hour?
A quarter hour is a way to measure time. Since one hour has 60 minutes, a quarter hour is 15 minutes.
The word "quarter" means one-fourth, just like a quarter of a dollar is 25 cents. So a quarter of an hour is 15 minutes because 60 ÷ 4 = 15.
We use quarter hours to tell time more easily. Instead of saying "fifteen minutes after the hour" we can say "quarter past." Instead of "fifteen minutes before the next hour" we say "quarter to."
Key Concept
1 hour = 60 minutes, so 1 quarter hour = 15 minutes. There are four quarter hours in one hour.
Reading Quarter Hours on a Clock
Reading quarter hours on a clock is simple once you know what to look for:
On an analog clock (with hands):
- When the minute hand points to the 3, it means 15 minutes have passed (quarter past)
- When the minute hand points to the 9, it means 45 minutes have passed (quarter to)
On a digital clock:
- 15 minutes past the hour shows :15 (like 3:15)
- 45 minutes past the hour shows :45 (like 3:45)
Quarter past 3
Quarter to 4
Remember
The minute hand moves all the way around the clock in 60 minutes. Each quarter is 15 minutes.
Quarter Past and Quarter To
We use special phrases for quarter hours:
Quarter Past: This means 15 minutes after the hour. For example:
- 3:15 is "quarter past three"
- 7:15 is "quarter past seven"
Quarter To: This means 15 minutes before the next hour. For example:
- 3:45 is "quarter to four" (because it's 15 minutes until 4:00)
- 11:45 is "quarter to twelve"
Time Conversion
Quarter past = :15 minutes
Quarter to = :45 minutes
Tip
When the minute hand points to the 9, it's always "quarter to" the next hour!
Real-World Examples
Quarter hours are used in everyday life. Here are some examples:
Example 1: School starts at 8:15. How would we say this time?
Solution: "Quarter past eight" or "eight fifteen"
Example 2: The movie begins at 2:45. How would we say this?
Solution: "Quarter to three" or "two forty-five"
Example 3: Soccer practice ends at 5:15. How many minutes is this after 5:00?
Solution: 15 minutes (quarter hour)
Example 4: Dinner is at 6:45. How many minutes until 7:00?
Solution: 15 minutes (quarter hour)
Common Quarter Hour Times
| Digital Time | "Quarter Past" | "Quarter To" |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | Quarter past one | |
| 1:45 | Quarter to two | |
| 4:15 | Quarter past four | |
| 4:45 | Quarter to five | |
| 9:15 | Quarter past nine | |
| 9:45 | Quarter to ten |
Practice Tip
Look for quarter hour times on schedules, TV guides, and digital clocks to practice recognizing them.
Quarter Hour Practice Quiz
Test your time-telling skills with this 5-question quiz. Choose the correct answer for each question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about quarter hours:
Time Trivia
Discover interesting facts about time and clocks:
Ancient Timekeeping
The ancient Egyptians divided daylight into 12 hours around 1500 BCE. Since daylight hours vary by season, their hours were longer in summer and shorter in winter!
The Shortest Time
Scientists can measure time intervals as short as 0.0000000000000000001 seconds. That's one tenth of a billionth of a billionth of a second!
First Mechanical Clocks
The first mechanical clocks were invented in Europe in the 14th century. They didn't have minute hands at first - only hour hands!
World's Largest Clock
The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has the world's largest clock face. Each of its four faces is 43 meters (141 feet) in diameter!
