topic badge

8.03 International time zones and time differences

Worksheet
Longitude lines and time
1

The Earth turns 360 \degree in 24 hours.

a

How many degrees does it turn in 1 hour?

b

For every 75 \degree of longitude, calculate the time difference in hours.

c

For every 1 \degree of longitude, calculate the time difference in minutes.

2

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is on the 0 \degree meridian. Find the difference in time between the sunrise in Greenwich and the sunrise in a city at a longitude of:

a

30 \degree \text{W}.

b

105 \degree \text{E}.

c

97.5 \degree \text{W}.

d

44 \degree \text{E}.

3

If location A has longitude 50 \degree west of location B, determine whether the time at location A is behind or ahead the time at location B.

4

The time in Denver is \text{GMT }-7.

a

State the longitude of Denver.

b

Is Denver East or West of Greenwich?

5

Calculate the time difference to the nearest hour between the following:

a

Locations with coordinates of \left( 45 \degree \text{S}, 3 \degree \text{E} \right) and \left( 33 \degree \text{N}, 48 \degree \text{E} \right).

b

Locations with coordinates of \left( 20 \degree \text{S}, 3 \degree \text{E} \right) and \left( 9 \degree \text{S}, 117 \degree \text{W} \right).

c

Hong Kong \left( 22 \degree \text{N}, 114 \degree \text{E} \right) and Beirut \left( 34 \degree \text{N}, 36 \degree \text{E} \right).

d

Los Angeles \left( 34 \degree \text{N}, 118 \degree \text{W} \right) and Beijing \left( 40 \degree \text{N}, 116 \degree \text{E} \right).

6

On the map, the Earth has been divided into 12 lines of longitude:

a

State the time difference between two successive lines of longitude.

b

If the time in City E is 13:20, find Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

c

If the local time in City A is 10 pm on Sunday:

i

Find the local time in City D.

ii

State what day is it in City D.

d

If the local time in City D is 6 am on Friday:

i

Find the local time in City B.

ii

State what day is it in City B.

Time zones
7

Which of the following locations will be the first to celebrate New Year's Eve?

A

Canberra \left( \text{UTC} +10 \right)

B

Darwin \left( \text{UTC}+9 \right)

C

Perth \left( \text{UTC}+8 \right)

8

Which of the following cities will have a time of 11 pm when it is 4 pm UTC?

A

Cairo \left( \text{UTC}+2 \right)

B

Singapore \left( \text{UTC}+7 \right)

C

Rio de Janeiro \left( \text{UTC}-3 \right)

9

Which of the following cities will have a time after 3 am when it is 2 am in Cairo \left( \text{UTC}+2 \right)?

A

Singapore \left( \text{UTC}+7 \right)

B

Rio de Janeiro \left( \text{UTC}-3 \right)

C

Washington \left( \text{UTC}-5 \right)

10

Conside the map below:

a

State the two cities that are in the same time zone.

b
Find how many hours Hobart is ahead of Paris.
11

Consider the map below:

a

Calculate the number of hours San Francisco is behind Cape Town.

b

Find the time in San Francisco when it is 17:00 in Cape Town.

c

Find the time in Bamako when it is 10:00 am in Nuuk.

12

In the following map, the colour of the region is used to indicate the time zone:

a

Find the time difference between Toronto and Rio de Janeiro.

b

Find the time difference between Beijing and Johannesburg.

c

Find the time difference between Moscow and Canberra.

d

Find the time difference between Toronto and Moscow.

e

Find the time difference between Cairo and Tokyo.

f

If it is 9 pm on Wednesday in Santiago, what day is it in Johannesburg?

g

If it is 5:00 am on Wednesday in Moscow, what day is it in San Francisco?

13

The table shows the time of several locations relative to UTC:

UTC OffsetLocation
-5\text{New York, Cuba, Peru}
-4\text{Chile, Barbados, Brazil (west), Bolivia}
-3\text{Argentina, Brazil (east), Uruguay, Greenland}
-2\text{South Sandwich Islands}
-1\text{Azores}
0\text{UK, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, Ghana, Liberia, Mali}
+1\text{Algeria, Angola, Chad, Bosnia, Croatia}
+2\text{Finland, Greece, Lebanon, Egypt, South Africa}
+3\text{Russia (west), Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Madagascar, Iraq}
+3.5\text{Iran}
+4\text{Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Armenia}
+4.5\text{Afghanistan}
+5\text{Pakistan, Maldives, Kazakhstan}
+5.5\text{India, Sri Lanka}
a

Using the table, which location is ahead in time of the other: South Sandwich Islands or Brazil (west)?

b

Calculate the time difference between South Sandwich Islands and Brazil (west).

c

When it is 6 pm on the 17th day of the month in South Sandwich Islands, determine the time and day in Brazil (west).

d

Calculate the time difference between Kenya and Mauritius.

e

When it is 17:25 on the 15th day of the month in Kenya, determine the time and day in Mauritius.

f

Using the table, which location is ahead in time of the other: Uruguay or Algeria?

g

Calculate the time difference between Uruguay and Algeria.

h

If it is 21:25 on the 13th day of the month in Uruguay, determine the time and day in Algeria.

14

Calculate the time difference between the following:

a

Manila \left( \text{GTM}+8 \right) and Tehran \left( \text{UTC}+3 \right).

b

Azores \left( \text{UTC}-1 \right) and Miami \left( \text{UTC}-5 \right).

15

Find the time in Bangkok \left( \text{UTC}+7\right) when it is 11 am in Athens \left( \text{UTC} +2 \right).

16

Zurich is 7 hours behind Taipei. If it is 11:00 pm Wednesday in Taipei, determine the time in Zurich.

17

The table shows the current time in major capital cities beginning with the letter M:

a

When it is 15:10 Minsk time, determine the time in Madrid. Give your answer in 24-hour time.

b

When it is 11:20 am Montevideo time, determine the time in Minsk.

CityTime
MadridThu 1:58 am
ManaguaWed 5:58 pm
ManilaThu 7:58 am
MelbourneThu 9:58 am
Mexico CityWed 6:58 pm
MiamiWed 7:58 pm
MinneapolisWed 6:58 pm
MinskThu 2:58 am
MontevideoWed 8:58 pm
MontrealWed 7:58 pm
MoscowThu 3:58 am
MumbaiThu 5:58 am
18

Mae wants to know the time in Quebec \left( \text{UTC}-5 \right) when it is 11 pm on Saturday in Honolulu \left( \text{UTC}-10 \right).

a

Hence find the time in Quebec when it is 11 pm on Saturday in Honolulu.

b

What day is it in Quebec when it is 11 pm on Saturday in Honolulu?

Applications
19

Eileen lives in London, but is away on holiday at a location with a longitude of 135 \degreeE.

a

Calculate the time difference between her location and London (GMT).

b

She will be able to call home when it is 1:10 pm London time (GMT). Find time it will be at her location.

c

Her flight leaves at 10:10 am local time at her holiday location. Determine the London time her flight will depart.

20

The time in Milan, Italy \left( 45 \degree \text{N}, 9 \degree \text{E} \right) is 5 hours behind location A in Asia.

A flight departs Milan at 2:53 am, headed for location A.

Find the local time in location A when it departs Milan.

21

Maria is away at a conference. Her location is \left( 24 \degree \text{S}, 77 \degree \text{E} \right), while her hometown is \left( 27 \degree \text{S}, 122 \degree \text{E} \right).

Calculate the local time at home when the conference finishes at 5 am?

22

James wants to know the time in the city located at \left( 35 \degree \text{S}, 31 \degree \text{W} \right) when it is 3 pm on Sunday in the city located at \left( 7 \degree \text{N}, 104 \degree \text{E} \right).

Find the time in the city located at \left( 35 \degree \text{S}, 31 \degree \text{W} \right) when it is 3 pm in the city located at \left( 7 \degree \text{N}, 104 \degree \text{E} \right).

23

A flight is due to depart airport A \left( 14 \degree \text{N}, 57 \degree \text{W} \right) at 15:50. It is headed for airport B \left( 20 \degree \text{S}, 132 \degree \text{W} \right).

If the flight takes 7 hours, determine the local time it will land at airport B.

24

Two satellites are to be launched simultaneously, one at location A \left( 3 \degree \text{N}, 54 \degree \text{W} \right) and the other at location B \left( 35 \degree \text{S}, 111 \degree \text{E} \right).

If launch time at location B is 17:40, find the launch time at location A.

25

The two Diomede islands are only 4 \text{ km} apart, but travelling this distance from one to the other means crossing the International Date Line:

a

At 3:00 pm on Wednesday, Hannah rows from Big Diomede to Little Diomede in 5 minutes. State the day it will be on Little Diomede when Hannah arrives.

b

Hannah spends about an hour on Little Diomede before rowing back, with the return journey taking about the same amount of time as before. State the day it will it be on Big Diomede when she returns.

26

Han, who is in Melbourne \left( \text{UTC}+10\right) at the moment, has an interview over Skype with the human resources manager of an American trading firm scheduled for 4 pm on Sunday, Memphis \left( \text{UTC}-6 \right) time.

Find the time and day the interview will be at in Melbourne.

27

The rugby World Cup final is broadcast live across the world. One particular year it was held in Wales and the game started at 4 pm local time. Where Beth lives, it is 17 hours behind Wales. Determine the time the game started in her local time.

28

A company wants to set up a business meeting between four of its employees. The employees are in the following cities: Cairo \left( \text{UTC}+2 \right), Amsterdam \left( \text{UTC}+1 \right), London \left( \text{UTC }0 \right), Perth \left( \text{UTC}+8 \right).

If it is 1 pm in Perth, determine the time in the following cities:

a

Cairo

b

Amsterdam

c

London

29

Three scientists collaborating on the same project all need to get together for weekly meetings. Each scientist is in a different location. Buzz is located in Rome \left( \text{UTC}+1 \right). Han is located in Cairo \left( \text{UTC}+2 \right). Beth is located in San Francisco \left( \text{UTC}-8 \right).

a

Which scientist will have the earliest local time?

b

Which of the scientists will have the latest local time?

c

Beth suggests 8 pm in San Francisco. Determine the time it would be in the other two cities:

i

Rome

ii

Cairo

d

Buzz suggests 8 am in Rome. Determine the time it would be in the other two cities:

i

Cairo

ii

San Francisco

30

An astronomer in Beirut observes a solar flare at 11 pm local time \left( \text{UTC}+3 \right).

Determine the local time his colleague in Pretoria would have seen the same flare if his time zone is \text{UTC}+2.

31

Valerie in Hobart has a phone conversation with Oprah in Manilla. Manilla is 2 hours behind Hobart time.

a

If Valerie calls at 10:30 am, determine the time it is for Oprah.

b

If Oprah calls at 7:30 pm, determine time it is for Valerie.

32

Isabelle in Brisbane is expecting a phone call from Gwen in Manilla. Manilla is 2 hours behind Brisbane time.

a

If Isabelle calls at 12:30 am, determine the time it is for Gwen.

b

If Gwen calls at 11:45 pm, determine the time it is for Isabelle.

33

Ellie in Darwin is expecting a phone call from Avril in Shanghai. Shanghai is 1.5 hours behind Darwin time.

a

If Ellie calls at 12:15 am, determine the time it is for Avril.

b

If Avril calls at 11:45 pm, determine the time it is for Ellie.

34

Sophia, Quentin and Harry work for the same company from offices in three different cities. The cities and time zones of each person is given in the table:

They want to organise an hour long online meeting within everyone's working hours.

PersonCityTime zone
\text{Sophia}\text{Los Angeles}\text{UTC}-8
\text{Quentin}\text{Chicago}\text{UTC}-6
\text{Harry}\text{Melbourne}\text{UTC}+10
a

A person can attend the meeting if it starts after 8:00 and ends before 18:00 in their local time.

Which of these times should Harry choose to make sure that Sophia and Quentin can both attend? The options are given in Harry's time zone.

A

16:00

B

13:00

C

9:00

D

6:00

b

Each person only works Monday to Friday. State the days that Harry could choose to have the meeting in his time zone.

35

A plane travels from El Paso \left( \text{UTC}-7 \right) at 10 am on Friday on a 13-hour flight to Brazilia \left( \text{UTC}-3 \right).

a

Determine the time in Brazilia when it is 10 am in El Paso.

b

Determine the time in Brazilia at which the plane will arrive.

c

Determine the day the plane will arrive in Brazilia.

36

When the time is 5:23 pm in Honolulu, it is 10:23 pm in Miami. You take 19 hours to travel from Honolulu to Miami.

If you leave at 4:50 pm on Sunday, determine:

a

The local time that you arrive in Miami.

b

The day you arrive in Miami.

37

Tina looks at her flight details. Her plane leaves at 6:00 am on Wednesday and arrives at her destination at 8:00 pm on Tuesday (local time). The flight will take 12 hours.

Calculate the time difference between her origin and destination.

38

A plane left airport A at 8:30 pm on Tuesday and landed at airport B at 9:00 pm (local time) on the same day.

If airport B is 19 hours behind airport A, how long did the trip take?

39

The following table displays the Air China flight schedule of outbound flights:

Flight NumberAirport CodeDeparture TimeAirport CodeArrival Time
\text{CA}921\text{Shanghai Pudong} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PVG)} \text{5:47 am}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{4:39 pm}
\text{CA}934\text{Shanghai Pudong} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PVG)} \text{5:55 pm}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{4:21 pm}
\text{CA}945\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{5:10 am}\text{New York} \\ \text{UTC -5} \text{ (SFO)} \text{6:50 am} \\ \text{ (Same Day)}
\text{CA}956\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{7:29 am}\text{San Francisco} \\ \text{UTC -7} \text{ (SFO)} \text{7:40 am} \\ \text{ (Same Day)}
\text{CA}981\text{New York} \\ \text{UTC -5} \text{ (SFO)} \text{5:12 pm}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{6:52 pm} \\ \text{(Next Day)}
\text{CA}996\text{San Francisco} \\ \text{UTC -7} \text{ (SFO)} \text{1:29 pm}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{5:34 pm} \\ \text{(Next Day)}

Find the flight time for the following flights:

a

CA981

b

CA934

c

CA945

d

CA996

e

CA921

f

CA956

40

The following table displays the departure and flight times for three Air China flights:

Flight NumberAirport CodeDeparture TimeAirport CodeFlight Time
\text{CA}994\text{San Francisco} \\ \text{UTC -8} \text{ (SFO)} \text{1:13 pm}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} 12 \text{ hours and } \\ 31 \text{ mins.}
\text{CA}927\text{Shanghai Pudong} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PVG)} \text{5:56 pm}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} 8 \text{ hours and } \\ 31 \text{ mins.}
\text{CA}950\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{ (PEK)} \text{7:21 pm}\text{San Francisco} \\ \text{UTC -8} \text{ (SFO)} 14 \text{ hours and } \\ 37 \text{ mins.}
a

Determine the time CA994 arrives in Beijing local time.

b

Determine the time CA927 arrives in Beijing local time.

c

Determine the time CA950 arrives in San Francisco local time.

41

Luke wants to travel from Moscow to Beijing by train. In order to do that he has to board three trains. These trains are shown in the table:

TrainStationDeparture TimeStationArrival Time
1\text{Moscow} \\ \text{UTC +3} \text{8:56 pm} \\ \text{Monday}\text{Novosibrisk} \\ \text{UTC +6} \text{2:29 pm} \\ \text{Wednesday}
2\text{Novosibirsk} \\ \text{UTC +6} \text{1:25 pm} \\ \text{Thursday}\text{Ulaanbaatar} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{9:47 pm} \\ \text{Friday}
3\text{Ulaanbaatar} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{6:46 am} \\ \text{Saturday}\text{Beijing} \\ \text{UTC +8} \text{2:27 pm} \\ \text{Sunday}
a

How long does the first train take?

b

How long does the second train take?

c

How long does the third train take?

Sign up to access Worksheet
Get full access to our content with a Mathspace account

Outcomes

3.4.2.1

define Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), International Date Line and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

3.4.2.2

understand the link between longitude and time

3.4.2.3

determine the number of degrees of longitude for a time difference of one hour

3.4.2.5

solve problems involving GMT, International Date Line and UTC

3.4.2.6

calculate time differences between two places on Earth

3.4.2.7

solve problems associated with time zones, such as online purchasing, making phone calls overseas and broadcasting international events

3.4.2.8

solve problems relating to travelling east and west incorporating time zone changes, such as preparing an itinerary for an overseas holiday with corresponding times

What is Mathspace

About Mathspace