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Elapsed Time Worksheets: Word Problems With Answers

A printable elapsed time worksheet: fourteen word problems for students, with step-by-step answers, a one-page summary of both methods, and a print button.

By , Timer Calculator

Updated

Short answer

Fourteen problems from easy to hard: times inside the same hour, across the hour, across noon, and across midnight, plus finding the end or start time. Each one has a worked answer you can open, and a link that loads it into the elapsed time calculator to check it.

They fit the third-grade standard many US schools follow, Common Core 3.MD.1, which starts: "Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes." It also covers solving word problems with time intervals, for example on a number line. The later sets suit older students.

The two methods, on one page

Count up

  1. Jump from the start time to the next full hour.
  2. Count the whole hours.
  3. Count the minutes left to the end time.
  4. Add the jumps.

Example: 5:45 AM to 4:10 PM is 15 min + 10 h + 10 min = 10 h 25 min.

Subtract

  1. Write both times in 24-hour form.
  2. Subtract the minutes. Borrow 60 from the hours if you need to.
  3. Subtract the hours.
  4. Past midnight? Add 24 to the end hour first.

Example: 16:10 − 05:45 → 15:70 − 05:45 = 10:25.

A number line makes counting up easy to see. Draw the start and end times, mark the full hours between them, and label each jump. Here's the count-up example drawn that way:

Number line from 5:45 AM to 4:10 PM. Jump 15 min to 6:00 AM, then 10 h to 4:00 PM, then 10 min to 4:10 PM. Total 10 hours 25 minutes.15 min10 h10 min5:45 AM6:00 AM4:00 PM4:10 PM15 min + 10 h + 10 min = 10 h 25 min
The count-up example on a number line. The jumps aren't drawn to scale: the break in the line stands in for the hours between 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The elapsed time calculator shows both methods for any times you enter.

Practice problems

Same hour

  1. Maya starts reading at 3:10 PM and stops at 3:45 PM. How long does she read?

    Show the answer

    35 minutes

    1. Same hour: from 3:10 PM to 3:45 PM is 35 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  2. A pizza goes into the oven at 6:05 PM and comes out at 6:22 PM. How long does it bake?

    Show the answer

    17 minutes

    1. Same hour: from 6:05 PM to 6:22 PM is 17 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  3. Recess starts at 10:15 AM and ends at 10:40 AM. How long is recess?

    Show the answer

    25 minutes

    1. Same hour: from 10:15 AM to 10:40 AM is 25 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

Across the hour

  1. Soccer practice runs from 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM. How long is practice?

    Show the answer

    1 hour 45 minutes

    1. From 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM is 30 minutes.
    2. From 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM is 1 hour.
    3. From 6:00 PM to 6:15 PM is 15 minutes.
    4. Add them: 30 min + 1 h + 15 min = 1 hour 45 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  2. A train leaves at 9:50 AM and arrives at 12:20 PM. How long is the trip?

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    2 hours 30 minutes

    1. From 9:50 AM to 10:00 AM is 10 minutes.
    2. From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM is 2 hours.
    3. From 12:00 PM to 12:20 PM is 20 minutes.
    4. Add them: 10 min + 2 h + 20 min = 2 hours 30 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  3. A movie starts at 7:15 PM and ends at 9:05 PM. How long is the movie?

    Show the answer

    1 hour 50 minutes

    1. From 7:15 PM to 8:00 PM is 45 minutes.
    2. From 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM is 1 hour.
    3. From 9:00 PM to 9:05 PM is 5 minutes.
    4. Add them: 45 min + 1 h + 5 min = 1 hour 50 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

Across noon

  1. A field trip leaves school at 10:40 AM and returns at 1:15 PM. How long is the trip?

    Show the answer

    2 hours 35 minutes

    1. From 10:40 AM to 11:00 AM is 20 minutes.
    2. From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM is 2 hours.
    3. From 1:00 PM to 1:15 PM is 15 minutes.
    4. Add them: 20 min + 2 h + 15 min = 2 hours 35 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  2. The library is open from 11:25 AM to 2:10 PM on Saturday. How long is it open?

    Show the answer

    2 hours 45 minutes

    1. From 11:25 AM to 12:00 PM is 35 minutes.
    2. From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM is 2 hours.
    3. From 2:00 PM to 2:10 PM is 10 minutes.
    4. Add them: 35 min + 2 h + 10 min = 2 hours 45 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

Across midnight

  1. A New Year's party runs from 9:30 PM to 12:15 AM. How long does it last?

    Show the answer

    2 hours 45 minutes

    1. From 9:30 PM to 10:00 PM is 30 minutes.
    2. From 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM is 2 hours.
    3. From 12:00 AM to 12:15 AM is 15 minutes.
    4. Add them: 30 min + 2 h + 15 min = 2 hours 45 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  2. A night shift starts at 10:45 PM and ends at 6:30 AM. How long is the shift?

    Show the answer

    7 hours 45 minutes

    1. From 10:45 PM to 11:00 PM is 15 minutes.
    2. From 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 7 hours.
    3. From 6:00 AM to 6:30 AM is 30 minutes.
    4. Add them: 15 min + 7 h + 30 min = 7 hours 45 minutes.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

Find the end or start time

  1. Cookies go into the oven at 2:35 PM and need 1 hour 40 minutes. When are they done?

    Show the answer

    4:15 PM

    1. Add the hours first: 2:35 PM + 1 hour = 3:35 PM.
    2. Add 25 minutes to reach the next hour: 3:35 PM + 25 minutes = 4:00 PM.
    3. Add the 15 minutes left: 4:00 PM + 15 minutes = 4:15 PM.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  2. A bus ride takes 55 minutes and arrives at 8:10 AM. When did it leave?

    Show the answer

    7:15 AM

    1. Count back 10 minutes to the hour: 8:10 AM − 10 minutes = 8:00 AM.
    2. Count back the 45 minutes left: 8:00 AM − 45 minutes = 7:15 AM.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  3. A road trip starts at 11:20 AM and the drive takes 1 hour 55 minutes. When do you arrive?

    Show the answer

    1:15 PM

    1. Add the hours first: 11:20 AM + 1 hour = 12:20 PM.
    2. Add 40 minutes to reach the next hour: 12:20 PM + 40 minutes = 1:00 PM.
    3. Add the 15 minutes left: 1:00 PM + 15 minutes = 1:15 PM.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

  4. Swim lessons start at 4:15 PM and the drive there takes 25 minutes. When should you leave home?

    Show the answer

    3:50 PM

    1. Count back 15 minutes to the hour: 4:15 PM − 15 minutes = 4:00 PM.
    2. Count back the 10 minutes left: 4:00 PM − 10 minutes = 3:50 PM.

    Check it in the elapsed time calculator

Answer key

Show the answer key
  1. 35 minutes
  2. 17 minutes
  3. 25 minutes
  4. 1 hour 45 minutes
  5. 2 hours 30 minutes
  6. 1 hour 50 minutes
  7. 2 hours 35 minutes
  8. 2 hours 45 minutes
  9. 2 hours 45 minutes
  10. 7 hours 45 minutes
  11. 4:15 PM
  12. 7:15 AM
  13. 1:15 PM
  14. 3:50 PM

Tips for teaching elapsed time

  • Start with problems inside one hour, then move to whole hours, then to mixed hours and minutes.
  • Have students say whether the answer should be more or less than an hour before they work it out. It catches a lot of mistakes.
  • Noon and midnight are where most errors happen. Point out that the label changes (AM to PM, or PM to AM) when you pass 12.
  • For start time problems, count backward on the number line: subtract the minutes, then the hours.

Key points

  • Counting up on a number line is the easiest method to picture. Subtracting is faster once students know 24-hour time.
  • Crossing noon or midnight is the hardest step, so give those problems extra practice.
  • Every answer here can be checked in the elapsed time calculator, which shows the steps.

Sources

  • Common Core State Standards, Grade 3 Measurement and Data, standard 3.MD.1, as published by the California Department of Education: cde.ca.gov

More guides

Or browse all time math guides.

These problems were written by Cedrick Reese for Timer Calculator. Every answer is worked out in code, not by hand. How-long problems use the count-up method the elapsed time calculator shows, end and start time problems add on or count back, and each problem links to the calculator so you can check it. The grade-level note quotes the published Common Core standard.