What Are Time Zones? | Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the time zone problems step by step using the information provided in the image.

Understanding the Time Zones:

The U.S. is divided into four main time zones:
- Pacific (PT)
- Mountain (MT)
- Central (CT)
- Eastern (ET)

Each zone is one hour apart, moving from west to east.

From left to right:
- Pacific → Mountain → Central → Eastern

So:
- Pacific is 3 hours behind Eastern
- Mountain is 2 hours behind Eastern
- Central is 1 hour behind Eastern

---

Given Example:

If it’s 12:00 PM in the Pacific time zone:
- Mountain: 1:00 PM
- Central: 2:00 PM
- Eastern: 3:00 PM

This confirms that each time zone is one hour ahead as you go east.

---

Now let's solve each question:

---

1. If it is 5:00 pm in Miami, what time is it in Boise?

- Miami is in the Eastern time zone.
- Boise is in the Mountain time zone.
- Mountain is 2 hours behind Eastern.

So:
> 5:00 PM (Eastern) – 2 hours = 3:00 PM (Mountain)

✔ Answer: 3:00 PM

---

2. If it is 10:00 am in San Francisco, what time is it in Denver?

- San Francisco is in the Pacific time zone.
- Denver is in the Mountain time zone.
- Mountain is 1 hour ahead of Pacific.

So:
> 10:00 AM (Pacific) + 1 hour = 11:00 AM (Mountain)

✔ Answer: 11:00 AM

---

3. If it is 12:00 pm in New York, what time is it in Los Angeles?

- New York is in the Eastern time zone.
- Los Angeles is in the Pacific time zone.
- Pacific is 3 hours behind Eastern.

So:
> 12:00 PM (Eastern) – 3 hours = 9:00 AM (Pacific)

✔ Answer: 9:00 AM

---

4. If it is 5:30 pm in Dallas, what time is it in Atlanta?

- Dallas is in the Central time zone.
- Atlanta is in the Eastern time zone.
- Eastern is 1 hour ahead of Central.

So:
> 5:30 PM (Central) + 1 hour = 6:30 PM (Eastern)

✔ Answer: 6:30 PM

---

5. If it is 11:45 am in Seattle, what time is it in St. Louis?

- Seattle is in the Pacific time zone.
- St. Louis is in the Central time zone.
- Central is 2 hours ahead of Pacific.

So:
> 11:45 AM (Pacific) + 2 hours = 1:45 PM (Central)

✔ Answer: 1:45 PM

---

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS

#### 1. Imagine flying on an airplane from Atlanta to Los Angeles. The flight leaves at 3:00 pm Eastern time, and the flight is six hours long. When you land, what will it be in San Francisco?

- Departure: 3:00 PM Eastern (Atlanta)
- Flight duration: 6 hours
- Arrival time in Los Angeles (Pacific):
But we must account for the time zone difference.

First, convert departure time to Pacific Time:
- Pacific is 3 hours behind Eastern.
- So 3:00 PM Eastern = 12:00 PM (noon) Pacific

Flight takes 6 hours:
> 12:00 PM + 6 hours = 6:00 PM Pacific

But the plane lands in Los Angeles, which is in the Pacific time zone.

So, when you land, it is 6:00 PM in Los Angeles.

Now, San Francisco is also in the Pacific time zone — same as LA.

✔ Answer: 6:00 PM

---

#### 2. Now, pretend you're flying from Seattle to New York. This is also a six-hour flight. It's 7:00 am in Seattle when you take off. What time will it be in New York when you land?

- Takeoff: 7:00 AM in Seattle (Pacific time)
- Flight duration: 6 hours
- Destination: New York (Eastern time)

First, calculate landing time in Pacific time:
> 7:00 AM + 6 hours = 1:00 PM Pacific

Now convert 1:00 PM Pacific to Eastern time:
- Eastern is 3 hours ahead of Pacific.
- So: 1:00 PM + 3 hours = 4:00 PM Eastern

✔ Answer: 4:00 PM

---

BONUS: What time zone do you live in?

This depends on your location. Since I can't know where you are, you should answer based on your own location.

For example:
- If you're in Chicago, you're in the Central time zone.
- If you're in Boston, you're in the Eastern time zone.
- If you're in Phoenix, you're in the Mountain time zone (but note: Arizona does not observe daylight saving).

👉 You fill this in based on your location.

---

✔ Final Answers Summary:

1. 3:00 PM
2. 11:00 AM
3. 9:00 AM
4. 6:30 PM
5. 1:45 PM

Challenge 1: 6:00 PM
Challenge 2: 4:00 PM
Bonus: *(Your local time zone)*

Let me know if you want help identifying your time zone!