sands of time

Question

Using a 5-minute and an 8-minute hourglass timer, describe how you would measure 6 minutes.

Answer 1

Hi Ximena,

You need to utilize the difference in time between the 2 hourglass timers.

1) Start both timers at the same time.  When the 5 minute timer runs out, you have 3 minutes left on the 8 minute timer.

2) Start your 6 minutes by measuring the first 3 minutes using the sand left in the 8 minute timer.  Restart the 5 minute timer at the same time that you start timing the last 3 minutes in the 8 minute timer.

3) When the 8 minute timer hits zero, 3 minutes will have passed to the 5 minute timer.  Flip the 5 minute timer; when the sand runs out another 3 minutes will have passed to equal 6 minutes.