Time regroups in base sixty
The class schedule at Mia's school is shown below. Find the time that the 4th period starts.
| Period | Start time | Class length | Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st period | 8:50 | 40 min | 10 min |
| 2nd period | 40 min | 10 min | |
| 3rd period | 40 min | 10 min | |
| 4th period |
The 1st period starts at 8:50. Each period lasts 40 minutes and is followed by a 10-minute break.
Show solution
Understand
Periods at Mia's school each last 40 minutes and are followed by a 10-minute break. The 1st period starts at 8:50. I need to find what time the 4th period begins.
- 1st period starts at 8:50.
- Each period is 40 minutes long.
- After each period there is a 10-minute break.
- The start time of the 4th period.
- 60 minutes = 1 hour (regroup when minutes reach 60).
- Between the start of one period and the start of the next is 40 + 10 = 50 minutes.
Plan
#5 Look for a Pattern · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
Each period-then-break repeats the same 50-minute block, so the gap from one start to the next is constant. Finding that pattern lets me add three 50-minute blocks to reach the 4th period, regrouping minutes into hours as needed.
Execute
Review
Each period plus break is 50 minutes, so four periods of school start across about 2.5 hours; starting at 8:50, ending near 11:20 in the late morning is a sensible school schedule.
Make a systematic list (tool 2): 1st 8:50, 2nd 9:40, 3rd 10:30, 4th 11:20 - adding 50 minutes each line gives the same 11:20.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.A.1Tell and write time to the nearest minute and solve elapsed time problems — Adding elapsed minutes to a start time and regrouping minutes into hours.3.OA.A.3Solve multiplication and division word problems within 100 — Multiplying 3 gaps x 50 minutes to find the total elapsed time.