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Measurement, time & conversions · Topic 14 of 15

Military (24-Hour) Time

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Math · 24-hour time

Military (24-Hour) Time

Four digits, no AM or PM: add 12 to 1–11 PM hours, subtract 12 from 1300 and later; midnight is 0000, noon 1200.

01 · 12-hour → 24-hourPM (1–11 o'clock): add 12
02 · 24-hour → 12-hour1300 or later: subtract 12 → PM
03 · MemorizeMidnight 0000 · noon 1200
01

What it is

24-hour time: 4 digits, hours (00–23) then minutes, no AM/PM must know
02

The rules

PM hours 1–11: add 12 (3:15 PM = 1515) must know
1300–2359 → subtract 12, it's PM (1840 = 6:40 PM) must know
AM hours 1–11: same digits, leading zero (7:05 AM = 0705)
12:xx AM → 00xx (12:25 AM = 0025)
Past 2400? Subtract 24 (2000 + 6 h = 0200)
03

Know by heart

Midnight = 0000 (2400 = end of the day); noon = 1200 must know
04

Elapsed time

Same day: end time − start time (hours and minutes apart)
Borrow 1 hour = 60 minutes, not 100
Across midnight: (2400 − start) + time after 0000
05

Worked examples

4:50 PM = 1650; 2215 = 10:15 PM
06

Elapsed time

Worked examples
0950 → 1410 = 4 h 20 min (not 1410 − 950 = 460)
2130 → 0315 = 2 h 30 min + 3 h 15 min = 5 h 45 min
07

The two 12 o'clock hours

Commonly confused
12:xx AM (just after midnight)12:xx PM (just after noon)
24-hour form00xx12xx
Example12:25 AM = 002512:45 PM = 1245
What to do with the 12Change it to 00Leave it; never add 12
08

Common mistakes

12:xx PM stays 12xx — never add 12 (12:45 PM = 1245)
Always 4 digits: 9:00 AM = 0900, not 900
09

More detail

Show 2 more facts
24-hour time removes the 12 a.m./12 p.m. confusion
Said in hundreds: 1400 = "fourteen hundred"
Pearl

From 1 PM on, add 12; from 1300 on, take 12 away.

Sources · Math is Fun — Time: AM/PM vs 24 Hour Clock · NIST Time and Frequency Division — Times of Day FAQs · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Mathematics study guide, p. 4: Military time · OpenExamPrep — HESI A2 Math 9.2: Military time, conversions and elapsed time · CCRI Tutoring Center — HESI Math (military/standard time among the topics) · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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HESI and HESI A2 are registered trademarks of Elsevier. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.