Maths in skateboarding: match or routine time

Quick answer

You can use maths to read clocks, understand time limits, and plan how long skateboarding routines or matches take. By learning how to tell time and work with periods, you can plan your skateboarding sessions and know when to stop.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to read a clock, understand time periods, and calculate how long skateboarding routines or matches last.

• You can tell the time to the nearest minute on an analogue clock
• You can add or subtract time to work out how long something takes
• You can plan a skateboarding routine using time limits
• You can understand how time affects your skating performance

Why this matters

Time is super important in skateboarding! Whether you're doing a match or practising a routine, knowing how long you have helps you plan, stay focused, and do your best. If you're part of a team, you might have a time limit for your routine. If you're just skating for fun, you might want to know how long you've been skating. Understanding time helps you be better at skateboarding and manage your energy.

How it works

Time in skateboarding is shown on clocks. A clock has two hands: a short hand (the hour hand) and a long hand (the minute hand). You can read the time by looking at where each hand points.

1. Look at the short hand (hour hand) – it tells you the hour
2. Look at the long hand (minute hand) – it tells you the minutes past the hour
3. Count the minutes in 5s as you go around the clock
4. Add the hours and minutes together to get the time

Examples you can see

Imagine you're watching a skateboarding competition. The routine must be completed in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Here are some examples of how to work with that time:

Let's say your skateboarding practice starts at 3:15 and lasts for 45 minutes. To find out when you finish:

1. Start time: 3:15
2. Duration: 45 minutes
3. 3:15 + 45 minutes = 4:00

So, you finish at 4:00.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Skateboard Time Challenge!

You're a skateboarder preparing for a match. Your routine must be done in exactly 1 minute and 45 seconds. Here’s your plan:

1. Warm-up: 15 seconds
2. First trick: 20 seconds
3. Second trick: 25 seconds
4. Third trick: ? seconds
5. Cool-down: 10 seconds

How many seconds do you need for your third trick to finish exactly at 1 minute 45 seconds?

1. Warm-up + tricks + cool-down = 1 minute 45 seconds
2. 15 + 20 + 25 + ? + 10 = 105 seconds
3. 70 + ? = 105
4. ? = 35 seconds

You need 35 seconds for your third trick!

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking the minute hand counts in 1s instead of 5s
• Why it happens: It can be easy to count the numbers on the clock one by one, but the minute hand moves in 5-minute jumps
• Fix: Practice counting in 5s around the clock
• Mistake: Forgetting to add the hour when time goes past 12
• Why it happens: When time goes from 11:55 to 12:00, it's easy to forget to go to 1:00
• Fix: Use a clock or timer to help you count the hours
• Mistake: Adding minutes incorrectly when crossing the hour
• Why it happens: When you add 40 minutes to 11:30, you might think it's 11:70
• Fix: Break it into 30 minutes + 10 minutes = 12:00

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:

1. Practising telling time with a real clock or a digital clock
2. Using a timer for short skating sessions to help them understand time limits
3. Playing time games like “How many tricks can you do in 30 seconds?”
4. Discussing how time affects their skating – “How long did that trick take?”
5. Encouraging them to plan their skateboarding routines with time limits

Remember: It's okay if they make mistakes. Time is a tricky concept, but with practice, it gets easier. Keep it fun and keep encouraging them!

Practice questions

1. What time is it if the hour hand is on 4 and the minute hand is on 12?
2. How long does a routine last if it starts at 10:15 and ends at 10:45?
3. If a match lasts 3 minutes and 15 seconds, how many seconds is that?
4. You start skating at 2:30 and skate for 50 minutes. What time do you finish?
5. How many seconds are in 1 minute and 20 seconds?

Answers:

1. 4:00
2. 30 minutes
3. 195 seconds
4. 3:20
5. 80 seconds

FAQ

Why do we need to know time in skateboarding?

Knowing time helps you plan your skating, manage your energy, and know when to stop or start. It also helps in competitions where you have strict time limits.

How do I read the minute hand?

The minute hand moves in 5-minute jumps. Count by 5s around the clock to find the minutes.

What if I don’t have a clock?

You can use a timer app, a stopwatch, or even count seconds to help you understand time.

Can I use maths to plan my skating routine?

Yes! You can plan how long each trick takes and fit them into your time limit.

Is it hard to learn time?

It takes practice, but with games and clocks, it becomes easier. Time is just like any other skill – the more you use it, the better you get.