Maths hiding in travel: airport gates

Quick answer

You can use maths to work out how long you'll wait before your plane boards at the airport. By using subtraction and addition, you can find out how much time is left until your flight starts.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to calculate how much time is left before your plane boards using simple subtraction and addition.

• You can tell the time on a clock and understand how to count minutes
• You can subtract times to find how long you have to wait
• You can add times to work out when your flight will start
• You can use your maths skills to plan your journey to the gate

Why this matters

When you travel by plane, you often have to wait at the airport. Knowing how to work out your waiting time helps you plan your day better. You can decide when to get snacks, how long to play, or if you have time to visit a shop. It's also useful when you're helping someone else, like a grandparent or friend, understand when their flight is.

Maths helps you understand time and how it moves, which is important not just for flying, but for school, play, and everyday life.

How it works

When you're at the airport, you'll see a big screen showing the time and when your flight will board. You can use this information to work out how much time is left.

1. Look at the current time on the clock or screen
2. Find the time your flight will start boarding
3. Subtract the current time from the boarding time
4. If your boarding time is later, you know how long to wait

Let’s explore how this works with some fun examples!

Examples you can see

Imagine it’s 10:15 and your flight is boarding at 10:45. How long do you have to wait?

You can count up from 10:15 to 10:45:

• From 10:15 to 10:30 is 15 minutes
• From 10:30 to 10:45 is another 15 minutes
• So, 15 + 15 = 30 minutes

Another example: It’s 2:30 and your flight boards at 3:15. How long do you have to wait?

You can count up from 2:30 to 3:15:

• From 2:30 to 3:00 is 30 minutes
• From 3:00 to 3:15 is 15 minutes
• So, 30 + 15 = 45 minutes

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a mini adventure to the airport!

Imagine you’re at the airport with your family. You need to get to your gate before your flight boards. Here’s what you do:

1. It’s 9:20 now
2. Your flight boards at 10:05
3. You need to get to the gate in 10 minutes
4. You have to walk 300 steps to get there
5. It takes 2 minutes to walk 100 steps
6. How long will it take you to walk to the gate?

Let’s solve this together:

• You walk 300 steps
• It takes 2 minutes to walk 100 steps
• So, 300 ÷ 100 = 3 groups of 100 steps
• 3 × 2 = 6 minutes to walk to the gate

Now, do you have enough time?

• You have 45 minutes to wait (from 9:20 to 10:05)
• You take 6 minutes to walk
• So, 45 - 6 = 39 minutes left to wait

Great! You’ll make it in time.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Subtracting the wrong way around (e.g., 10:45 - 10:15 = 30 minutes, but thinking it’s 10:15 - 10:45 = 30 minutes)
• Why it happens: Children may get confused with time and think they are subtracting the smaller number from the bigger one, not the current time from the future time.
• Fix: Always make sure you're subtracting the current time from the future time. If it's 10:15 and you want to know how long until 10:45, then 10:45 - 10:15 = 30 minutes.

• Mistake: Forgetting that 1 hour = 60 minutes
• Why it happens: Some children may not fully understand how time works, especially when crossing the hour mark.
• Fix: Use a clock or a number line to help count minutes and show how 60 minutes = 1 hour.

• Mistake: Counting minutes by skipping numbers (e.g., 10:15, 10:17, 10:19)
• Why it happens: Children might not be used to counting in 5-minute or 15-minute increments.
• Fix: Practice counting in 5s and 15s using a clock or a timer.

Parent and carer guide

Help your child practice these skills by asking them to work out how long they have to wait for their next activity. You can use a real clock or a timer at home to make it more fun. Ask questions like:

• “If it’s 10:20 now and your train leaves at 10:50, how long do you have to wait?”
• “If you start playing at 3:15 and stop at 3:45, how long did you play?”
• “If your friend starts their game at 2:30 and it takes 45 minutes, what time does it end?”

Try to make it fun by turning it into a game. You can even use a stopwatch or a timer to make it more exciting. Remember to praise your child for their effort, even if they make a mistake. Mistakes help them learn!

Practice questions

1. It’s 11:00 and your flight boards at 11:30. How long do you have to wait?
2. It’s 1:45 and your train leaves at 2:20. How long do you have to wait?
3. It’s 9:10 and your plane boards at 9:55. How long do you have to wait?
4. It’s 3:20 and your movie starts at 4:05. How long do you have to wait?
5. It’s 6:45 and your bus arrives at 7:15. How long do you have to wait?

Answers:

1. 30 minutes
2. 35 minutes
3. 45 minutes
4. 45 minutes
5. 30 minutes

FAQ

How do I know when my flight boards?

Look at the big screen at the airport. It shows the time your flight starts boarding. You can also check your phone or ticket for this information.

Why do we need to know how long we have to wait?

Knowing how much time you have helps you plan your day better. You can decide if you have time for a snack, a walk, or a game before your flight.

Can I use maths to plan my journey to the gate?

Yes! If you know how long it takes to walk to your gate, you can work out if you have enough time to get there before boarding.

What if I don’t understand time?

That’s okay! You can use a clock, a number line, or even count on your fingers to help you work out time. Practice makes progress!

How can I practice this at home?

You can play a game where you set a timer and ask your child to tell you how much time is left. You can also ask them to calculate how long they have to wait for a meal, a game, or a trip.