quarter past — Definition, Formula & Examples
Quarter past is a way of saying the time is 15 minutes after the hour. For example, quarter past 3 means 3:15.
The phrase "quarter past" denotes a time point exactly 15 minutes beyond a given hour, corresponding to the minute hand pointing at the 3 on an analog clock. The term arises because 15 minutes is one-quarter of the 60 minutes in an hour.
How It Works
On an analog clock, the minute hand completes a full circle in 60 minutes. One-quarter of that circle is 15 minutes. When the minute hand points straight to the right at the 3, exactly 15 minutes have passed since the hour, so we say it is "quarter past" that hour. The hour hand will have moved slightly past the hour number but not yet halfway to the next one.
Worked Example
Problem: A clock shows the hour hand just past the 8 and the minute hand pointing at the 3. What time is it?
Step 1: The hour hand is just past 8, so the hour is 8.
Step 2: The minute hand points at 3, which represents 15 minutes past the hour.
Step 3: Since 15 minutes is one-quarter of 60, we say it is quarter past 8.
Answer: The time is quarter past 8, or 8:15.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Confusing "quarter past" with "quarter to."
Correction: "Quarter past" means 15 minutes after the hour (e.g., 8:15), while "quarter to" means 15 minutes before the next hour (e.g., 7:45). Check whether the minute hand is on the right side (past) or the left side (to) of the clock.