Converting Time Units
1:05:10 = 3,910 s
If you have a time in hours, minutes and seconds, how do you get it in just minutes or seconds? Read on!
Minutes and Seconds to Seconds
To find how many total seconds are in a certain number of minutes and seconds:
- Multiply the number of minutes by 60
- then add the extra seconds
Example
Convert 5 minutes and 30 seconds to seconds.
- 5 minutes × 60 = 300 seconds
- Add 30 seconds: 300 + 30 = 330 seconds
Answer: 330 seconds
Example
Convert 2 minutes and 45 seconds to seconds.
- 2 × 60 = 120 seconds
- 120 + 45 = 165 seconds
Answer: 165 seconds
Hours and Minutes to Minutes
To convert hours and minutes into just minutes we use a similar method:
- Multiply the number of hours by 60
- then add the extra minutes
Example
Convert 3 hours and 20 minutes to minutes.
- 3 hours × 60 = 180 minutes
- 180 + 20 = 200 minutes
Answer: 200 minutes
Example
Convert 1 hour and 45 minutes to minutes.
- 1 × 60 = 60 minutes
- 60 + 45 = 105 minutes
Answer: 105 minutes
Hours, Minutes and Seconds to Seconds
To find the total number of seconds, we follow the "Path of 60." You multiply by 60 for every step you take down!
- Step 1: Change Hours into minutes by multiplying by 60
- Step 2: Add the Extra Minutes
- Step 3: Change that total number of minutes into Seconds by multiplying by 60 again
- Step 4: Add any Extra Seconds
Example: 1 Hour, 5 Minutes, and 10 Seconds
- Step 1: 1 Hour × 60 = 60 minutes
- Step 2: 60 minutes + 5 extra minutes = 65 total minutes
- Step 3: 65 minutes × 60 = 3,900 seconds
- Step 4: 3,900 + 10 extra seconds = 3,910 Total Seconds