How to Identify Quarter Hours and Practice Telling Time
The time in the clock can be read in am or pm, but it can also be read as a quarter to, quarter past and half past, referring to the different time points. The clock has readings written up to 12, and the numbers are 5 minutes apart. So, we can divide the time in a way that becomes easy to read. Let us understand more about this:
What is a Quarter?
The clock consists of 60 minutes in total which can be divided into two major parts of 30 minutes each and four minor parts consisting of 15 minutes each. The major part is called half past, and the minor part is called quarter to or quarter past. The half-past occurs when the minute hand is at 6. If the minute hand is present on 3, then it is quarter past, and if it is at 9 then it is quarter to.
Quarter Past 1
Example to Read Time
If the hour hand is at 7 and the minute hand is at 12 then we would say it is 7 o’clock.
The minute hand will come at 3, then we would say it is quarter past 7.
If the minute hand is present at 6 then it would be half past to 7.
And when it would reach 9 the hour hand would be close to 8, then we would say it is quarter to 8.
How Many Quarters in a Month?
A quarter is one-fourth of the total, whether it would be time or days in a month. To calculate the quarter of a month you can divide 30 by one-fourth. This would give you 7 and half days, which means a quarter in a month consists of 7 and half days. If a month like February is considered then it will have only 7 days in a quarter. And a month that has 31 days in total would have nearly 8 as a quarter in a month.
How Many Quarters are in a Year?
A year has 12 months in total. To find out a quarter of a year you can divide 12 by 4 which will give you the result as 3. This means that a quarter in a year has 3 months in it.
Year Divided Into Quarters
Points To Remember
The bigger or longer hand on the clock is the minute hand and the smaller or short hand is the hour hand.
The minute hand from 12 takes 15 minutes to make it to quarter past.
The minute hand from 12 takes 30 minutes to make it to half past.
The minute hand from 12 takes 45 minutes to make it to a quarter to.
Time Shown In Digital And Analog Clock
Conclusion
An hour consists of 60 minutes which can be divided into 4 equal parts or 2 equal parts known as quarters and halves respectively. Similarly, days in a month and months in a year can also be divided into a quarter of a month and a quarter of a year.
Sample Questions
1. How many minutes are there in a quarter of an hour?
a. 10
B. 20
c. 15
d. 30
Ans: 15
Explanation: an hour consists of 60 minutes which we can divide by 4 to get a quarter of an hour. This will result in 15. So, there are 15 minutes in a quarter of an hour.
2. What does one mean when one says it's quarter past 3?
a. 2:45
b. 3:15
c. 3:30
d. 3:45
Ans: 3:15
Explanation: Quarter past to 3 means that 15 minutes have passed since 3 o’clock. So it can be said as 3:15 too.
3. What do you mean by quarter to 11?
a. It's going to be 30 minutes from 10 o’clock
b. It's 45 minutes past 10 o’clock
c. it's going to be 12 o’clock in 15 minutes.
d. None of the above
Ans: Its 45 minutes past 10 o’clock
Explanation: Quarter to 11 means that only 15 minutes are left for 11 o’clock or in other words we can say that 45 minutes have passed since 10 o’clock and now it would be 11 o’clock soon. It can also be written as 10:45.
FAQs on What Does Quarter Past 12 Mean on a Clock?
1. What is 45 minutes called?
In time-telling terminology, 45 minutes past an hour is commonly referred to as “quarter to” the next hour. For example, 12:45 is said as “quarter to 1.” This is because a quarter of an hour is equal to 15 minutes, and 45 minutes past means it’s 15 minutes before the next hour. Vedantu’s math tutors help students master telling time, including concepts like quarter past, half past, and quarter to, through interactive lessons.
2. What time is quarter past?
“Quarter past” an hour refers to 15 minutes after the hour. For example, “quarter past 12” means the time is 12:15. On an analog clock, the minute hand points at the “3” to show a quarter past. Vedantu’s resources include visual aids and practice questions to help students confidently read clocks and express time accurately.
3. Is "quarter past" the same as 4:15?
Yes, “quarter past” an hour means 15 minutes after that hour. Specifically, “quarter past 4” is another way of saying 4:15. Vedantu offers live, interactive math sessions where students practice converting digital time to spoken expressions, such as “quarter past,” “half past,” and “quarter to.”
4. How do you say 2.30 in English?
The time 2.30 in English is commonly said as “half past two.” This means that it is thirty minutes after two o’clock. Vedantu helps students become comfortable with both digital and verbal formats of telling time using interactive exercises and guided practice.
5. What does "quarter past 12" mean on a clock?
On a clock, “quarter past 12” means 12:15. The hour hand points slightly past 12, and the minute hand points to the “3” (the 15-minute mark). In math lessons at Vedantu, students learn that each ‘quarter’ represents 15 minutes, so “quarter past” always indicates a time 15 minutes after the hour.
6. How is "quarter past" different from "quarter to"?
“Quarter past” means 15 minutes after the hour (e.g., 12:15), while “quarter to” means 15 minutes before the next hour (e.g., 12:45 is “quarter to 1”). Vedantu’s curriculum includes clear charts and examples, helping students easily distinguish between different ways of telling time.
7. How do you teach children the concept of "quarter past 12"?
To teach children “quarter past 12”, Vedantu uses:
- Interactive clock diagrams to show the movement of hands
- Real-life examples and activities
- Practice questions using both analog clocks and digital formats
8. What is the mathematical representation of "quarter past 12"?
Mathematically, “quarter past 12” represents the time 12:15. This can be written as $12 + \frac{1}{4}$ hour, which equals 12.25 hours in decimal notation. At Vedantu, math educators help students connect everyday time expressions with mathematical representations for deeper understanding.
9. Why is telling time using phrases like "quarter past 12" important for students?
Learning to tell time using expressions like “quarter past 12” helps students:
- Improve numeracy and real-life skills
- Strengthen listening and communication
- Understand division of an hour into quarters and halves
10. What are some common mistakes students make with "quarter past" and "quarter to", and how can they be avoided?
Common mistakes include:
- Confusing “quarter past” with “quarter to”
- Mixing up the minute values (15 vs. 45 minutes past)
