Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

The Time Is ...

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Primary curriculum
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

I think that some of you didn't notice that the times shown on the clock faces weren't the same as the digital times underneath the clocks so some solutions only included half the number of times we'd given.

Sophie offered this helpful advice:

I did this by looking at the numbers and ordering them earliest to latest. At first I was stuck on the time 00:17, but then I thought:  in 24 hour clock, 1 o'clock in the morning is 01:00 so what is midnight?'
I realised 00:00 must mean midnight.  
 

Katie from Hymer College Junior School sent us this picture of the order of the 12-hour clocks:


 
 

 Katie explained what she'd done:

First I labelled them with either "am" or "pm"so it was possible to put them in order.
Then I had to work out what each time said on the clock. With this I could put them in order [earliest - latest] easily.
I felt it was easier to set it out in lines like I have. I put arrows on so it was easy to follow.
I also found it was easier to do this on paper than on the computer.
With the 24 hour clock I would do the same except not label them with "am" or "pm".
 

I wonder whether this is the only solution?  

How about the order of the 24-hour times?  If you have a solution for this part of the problem, let us know!


You may also like

Order, Order!

Can you place these quantities in order from smallest to largest?

In Order

Can you rank these quantities in order? You may need to find out extra information or perform some experiments to justify your rankings.

What Is the Time?

Can you put these times on the clocks in order? You might like to arrange them in a circle.

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo