Reading a timeline
You learn to read a timeline: which year is something at, and how many years are there in between?
How to work it out
- First look at the years written at the big marks.
- Work out how many years one small mark stands for.
- Then count the marks from the year before the letter.
3 × 10 = 2 × 10 + 1 × 10 = 20 + 10 = 30
The big marks show 1800, 1850 and 1900. There are five small parts between two big marks. Letter B is three marks after 1850.
- Between 1850 and 1900 there are 50 years, in five parts: one mark is 50 ÷ 5 = 10 years.
- B is three marks after 1850: 3 × 10 = 30.
- So B is at 1880.
More examples
A is at 1820 and B is at 1880. How many years are there between them?
1880 − 1820 = 60 years.
Which letter is between 1900 and 1950?
Look for the letter between those two big marks.