Knowing the time is one thing, but sometimes you need to know what time it was a little while back. It’s a common calculation useful for everything from scheduling meetings to keeping accurate records.
So, how do you figure out what time was it 24 minutes ago? Let’s take a look.
Understanding “24 Minutes Ago”
When we talk about “24 minutes ago,” we mean a point in time that occurred exactly 24 minutes before the time we’re referencing. It’s a way of pinpointing a past moment relative to a specific reference point, like “right now.”
The calculation is simple: you just need to know what time it is now. Then you subtract 24 minutes from that time to find out what time it was 24 minutes ago.
Time can be measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, and so on. To put it in perspective, 24 minutes is equal to 1,440 seconds.
How to calculate time manually
The easiest way to figure out “what time was it X minutes ago?” is to subtract. For example, if it’s 3:00 PM right now, then 24 minutes ago, it was 2:36 PM.
Things get trickier if you need to “borrow” an hour. Say it’s 1:10 PM now. To subtract 24 minutes, you’d need to borrow an hour, turning the 1:00 into 12:60. Subtracting 24 minutes from 12:60 gives you 12:46 PM.
If the time is close to midnight, you might even end up on the previous day!
Time calculation tools
You can always do the math yourself, but there are faster ways to figure out the time 24 minutes ago.
Online calculators
Plenty of websites offer handy time calculators that will tell you what time it was, or what time it will be at a future date.
To use one of these calculators, just enter the current time and the number of minutes you want to subtract, and then click the “ago” button.
Digital clocks and timestamps
Most digital clocks and watches display the current time, but that’s not all they’re good for. Many digital devices can also be used to create a Unix timestamp, which is a way of noting an exact moment in time.
Closing Thoughts
So, whether you decide to do the math yourself or use an online calculator, figuring out what time it was 24 minutes ago is pretty straightforward.
No matter how you calculate it, remembering the exact time is key to everything from catching the bus to making sure you’re not late for that all-important meeting.