Elapsed Time Examples in Math

Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to check your understanding of Elapsed Time.

This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move from recognition to confident problem-solving in Math.

Concept Recap

Calculating the amount of time that passes between a start time and an end time, using hours and minutes in base-60 arithmetic rather than base-10.

Imagine a movie starts at 2:15 PM and ends at 4:45 PM. Elapsed time is like counting how many minutes the movie lasted—you hop forward from the start time to the end time.

Read the full concept explanation →

How to Use These Examples

  • Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
  • Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
  • Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.

What to Focus On

Core idea: Elapsed time is the duration between a start clock-time and an end clock-time, counted in hours and minutes where 60 minutes makes an hour.

Common stuck point: The procedure for elapsed time is the easy part; the trap is borrowing 100 from the hours column. Asking "Am I given a start time and an end time and asked how much time passed between them?" first is what keeps a correct-looking calculation from being attached to the wrong concept.

Sense of Study hint: Ask: Am I given a start time and an end time and asked how much time passed between them?

Worked Examples

Example 1

easy
School starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:00 PM. How long is the school day?

Answer

7 hours

First step

1
Start time: 8:00 AM. End time: 3:00 PM.

Full solution

  1. 2
    From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM = 4 hours.
  2. 3
    From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM = 3 hours.
  3. 4
    Total elapsed time: 4+3=74 + 3 = 7 hours.
Elapsed time = end time − start time. Going from 8 AM to 3 PM spans 7 hours.

Example 2

medium
A movie starts at 2:15 PM and lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes. What time does it end?

Example 3

medium
A train ride is 2 hours 20 minutes. If it leaves at 11:50 AM, when does it arrive?

Example 4

hard
Why does 11:05−9:2011:05 - 9:20 require borrowing, while 11:50−9:2011:50 - 9:20 does not?

Practice Problems

Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.

Example 1

easy
A TV show starts at 7:30 PM and ends at 8:00 PM. How long is the show?

Example 2

medium
Lena starts reading at 4:20 PM and reads for 55 minutes. What time does she stop?

Example 3

easy
A movie starts at 2:00 PM and ends at 4:00 PM. How long is it?

Example 4

easy
From 3:15 to 3:45, how many minutes pass?

Example 5

easy
A class runs from 9:00 to 9:50. How long is it?

Example 6

easy
It is 7:00 now. What time is it 3 hours later?

Example 7

easy
From 1:20 to 1:35, how many minutes pass?

Example 8

easy
A trip takes 2 hours and starts at 5:00. When does it end?

Example 9

easy
How many minutes are in 1 hour and 30 minutes?

Example 10

easy
A show ends at 8:40 after starting at 8:10. How long was it?

Example 11

medium
From 2:15 PM to 4:45 PM, how long is the movie?

Example 12

medium
From 9:20 to 11:05, how much time passes?

Example 13

medium
A train leaves at 11:40 AM and arrives at 1:10 PM. How long is the trip?

Example 14

medium
From 3:20 to 3:20 the next... no — find the time 50 minutes after 3:40.

Example 15

medium
A meeting from 10:50 AM to 12:15 PM lasts how long?

Example 16

medium
How many minutes between 6:45 and 8:30?

Example 17

medium
A flight departs 9:30 PM and lands 12:10 AM. How long is the flight?

Example 18

medium
If a 90-minute exam starts at 1:50 PM, when does it end?

Example 19

challenge
A student computes 11:05−9:20=2:1511:05 - 9:20 = 2:15 by subtracting digits. Find the correct elapsed time and the error.

Example 20

challenge
From 10:35 AM Monday to 2:20 PM the same day, how many minutes elapse?

Example 21

challenge
Two events: A from 8:50 to 10:05, B from 9:30 to 11:00. How much longer is B than A?

Example 22

medium
From 4:55 to 6:10, how much time passes?

Example 23

easy
Soccer practice runs from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. How long is practice?

Example 24

easy
Recess starts at 10:15 and ends at 10:35. How long is recess?

Example 25

easy
A bus leaves the stop at 7:25 AM and arrives 30 minutes later. What time does it arrive?

Example 26

easy
Art class starts at 1:10 and lasts 45 minutes. When does it end?

Example 27

easy
A nap starts at 1:00 PM and ends at 1:25 PM. How long is the nap?

Example 28

easy
Lunch starts at 12:00 and ends at 12:35. How many minutes is lunch?

Example 29

medium
A piano lesson runs from 3:50 PM to 4:35 PM. How long is the lesson?

Example 30

medium
A movie starts at 6:45 PM and lasts 1 hour 50 minutes. What time does it end?

Example 31

medium
From 7:55 AM to 9:10 AM, how much time passes?

Example 32

medium
Mom puts cookies in the oven at 5:48 PM. They bake for 12 minutes. When do they come out?

Example 33

medium
How long is a soccer game that starts at 9:30 AM and ends at 11:05 AM?

Example 34

medium
From 8:15 AM to 12:45 PM, how much time passes?

Example 35

medium
A toy oven bakes for 1 hour 25 minutes. Maya starts at 2:50 PM. When is it done?

Example 36

medium
A bus arrives at 3:10 PM, having traveled 1 hour 50 minutes. When did it leave?

Example 37

medium
Liam practices piano 30 minutes a day. After 5 days, how many minutes total? How many hours and minutes?

Example 38

medium
A swim lesson is 45 minutes. The next is right after. If lessons start at 4:00 PM, when does the second one end?

Example 39

hard
A flight leaves at 10:55 PM and lands at 1:40 AM. How long is the flight?

Example 40

hard
A movie is 1 hour 55 minutes and starts at 11:20 AM. When does it end?

Example 41

hard
Two friends: A studies 8:30 to 10:15, B studies 9:00 to 10:45. Who studied longer, and by how much?

Example 42

challenge
A clock shows 9:47. How many minutes until 11:03?

Example 43

challenge
A camp activity runs from 7:50 AM to 11:35 AM. How long is it, in hours and minutes? In total minutes?
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Related Concepts

Telling TimeSubtraction

Background Knowledge

These ideas may be useful before you work through the harder examples.

telling timesubtraction