Minutes
Abbreviation/Symbol:
min
Unit of:
Worldwide use:
Minutes are a universally recognized unit of time across the globe. Originating from the Latin term "pars minuta prima" meaning "first small part" a minute is 1/60th of an hour.
Definition:
A minute is defined as 60 seconds.
Origin:
The Babylonians used a base-60 or sexagesimal numeral system, likely chosen due to its divisibility by several numbers. The division of an hour into 60 minutes and a minute into 60 seconds can be traced back to this time which was later adopted by the Greeks and then the Romans.
The term "minute" comes from the Latin phrase "pars minuta prima" meaning "first small part". This terminology was used during the Middle Ages when scholars began to further refine time measurement.
Common references:
1 minute = 60 seconds (s)
60 minutes = 1 hour
1440 minutes = 1 day
Usage context:
Minutes are widely used for scheduling and time management. In the professional realm minutes are crucial for tracking work hours.