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Comparing time

Part of MathsTimeYear 2

A child imagining two clocks with different times. The clock on the left shows a time of 9 o'clock and the clock on the right shows a time of 5 o'clock.

How to compare time

Time is measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.

Words such as 'longer', 'shorter', 'earlier', 'later', 'slower', and 'faster' can be used to compare time.

You can compare time by looking at different times on a clock.

For example, 9:00 am is 'earlier' than 9.30 am.

You can also compare intervals of time. This means how long, or how much time, something took.

For example, 20 minutes is 'shorter' than 45 minutes.

A child imagining two clocks with different times. The clock on the left shows a time of 9 o'clock and the clock on the right shows a time of 5 o'clock.
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Activity: How to compare time

Complete this interactive activity to understand how to compare time. Then put your knowledge to the test.

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Earlier and later

There are different ways to compare time.

One way is to look at what time it is and decide if another time is earlier or later. For example:

"7 o'clock in the morning is earlier than 11 o'clock in the morning."

"11 o'clock in the morning is later than 7 o'clock in the morning."

There are two clocks. The clock on the left is showing 7 o'clock with the word 'earlier' underneath. The clock on the right Is showing 11 o'clock with the word 'later' underneath.

To find this out you need to know which time happens first in the day.

7 o'clock in the morning happens before 11 o'clock in the morning, so it is earlier than 11 o'clock in the morning.

11 o'clock in the morning happens after 7 o'clock in the morning, so it is later than 7 o'clock in the morning.

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Durations

You can compare how long something takes, using words like 'longer', 'shorter', 'more', or 'less'.

There are two stop watches. The stop watch on the left is showing more time recorded and the stop watch on the right s showing less time recorded. Underneath the left stop watch the words 'longer' and 'more' are present. Under the right stop watch the words 'shorter' and 'less' is written.

Often:

  • running takes less time than walking

  • walking takes more time than running

  • a train journey can be longer than a car journey

  • a car journey can shorter than a train journey

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Intervals

You can also compare the amount of time that has ed between two times. This is called an interval.

The interval between 12 o'clock and four different times is shown in this picture:

15 minutes, the first quarter of the clock face is highlighted and the clock shows quarter past twelve. 30 minutes, the first half of the clock face is highlighted and the clock shows half past twelve. 45 minutes, the first three quarters of the clock face is highlighted and the clock shows quarter to one. 1 hour, the whole clock face is highlighted and the clock shows 1 o'clock.

You can use a number line to help you break down longer intervals.

The amount of time between 4 o'clock and twenty past 5 is 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Here is the interval shown on a number line - you can see that it is made up of 1 hour and 20 minutes:

A number line from 4.00 to 5.30 increasing in increments of 10. Above 4.00 and 5.00 there is an hour interval represented by an arch. There is smaller arch above 5.00 and 5.20 representing a 20 minute interval. A little clock in the top right corner shows 4 o'clock and next to it is a clock that shows twenty past five.
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Example 1

There are some time facts which are very helpful to know and when comparing durations of time.

A child thinking about the question.

Do you know:

  • How many days are in a week?

  • How many hours are in a day?

  • How many minutes are in an hour?

  • How many seconds are in a minute?

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Example 2

Three children sat on a sofa each reading a book.

Amir finished reading his book earlier than Lily and Lesley.

What words can you use you compare how long they took?

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Example 3

A girl pointing towards two clocks. The clock on the left shows 9 o'clock and the clock on the right shows half past 10.

There are two trains going to the beach tomorrow morning.

The times they leave are on the clocks above.

Which train leaves earlier and which train leaves later?

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