1. Start both hourglasses at the same time. 2. When the 4-minute hourglass runs out, flip it immediately. 3. When the 7-minute hourglass runs out, flip it immediately. 4. When the 4-minute hourglass runs out again (at 8 minutes), there is 1 minute of sand left in the 7-minute hourglass. 5. Let that 1 minute pass. You’ve now measured exactly 9 minutes.