Split down a number in seconds to days, hours, minutes, and seconds?

Question

I've heard that it's possible to accomplish this using the modulus `%` operator present in most programming languages. The real question is, how? I'm unfamiliar with how modulus works, so I've had difficulties using it in the past. Given the present time here in seconds since 1970, `1307758473.484`, how can I calculate how many years that is, days that is, hours that is, and minutes that is using modulus? I'm essentially looking to format it like this: "5 years, 10 days, 12 hours, 7 minutes, and 18.56 seconds". How would I do this? I'm really interested in learning the logic behind this and _not_ interested in a simple drop-in solution.

Answer 1

Division operator / returns the QUOTIENT of the integer division

Modulus operator returns the REMAINDER of the integer division

N is the number of seconds

sec = N % 60

min = N / 60

hours = min / 60

min = min % 60

days = hours/12

hours = hours % 24

years = days / 365

days = years % 365

============================================

Here is some code that works

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)

{

long N = 120000000;

long numSeconds = N; /* copies the input # of seconds */

int sec = (int) (N % 60);

N = N / 60;

int min = (int) (N % 60);

N = N / 60;

int hours = (int) (N%24);

N = N/24;

int days = (int)(N%365);

N = N/365;

int years = (int)N;

printf(" %d years %d days %d hours %d minuts %d seconds \n",years, days, hours, min, sec) ;

}