Skill: Convert units of time

Time units have fixed relationships:

• $60$ seconds $=1$ minute
• $60$ minutes $=1$ hour
• $24$ hours $=1$ day
• $7$ days $=1$ week

To change a larger unit to a smaller unit, multiply. To change a smaller unit to a larger unit, divide.

Example: Convert $185$ minutes to hours and minutes.

1. Since $60$ minutes make $1$ hour, divide by $60$:

$$185 \div 60 = 3\text{ remainder }5$$

2. The quotient, $3$, tells us there are $3$ whole hours.

3. The remainder, $5$, tells us there are $5$ minutes left.

Therefore,

$$185\text{ minutes}=3\text{ hours }5\text{ minutes}$$

Check: $3$ hours is $3\times60=180$ minutes, and $180+5=185$ minutes.