Compare Lengths

Grade 1 · measurement · 100 practice problems · read aloud

🔊 Listen to this explanation

📏 Compare Lengths

What is Comparing Lengths?

Comparing lengths means looking at two or more objects to see which one is longer, shorter, or if they are the same. We do this to help us describe and organize the world around us! 🦒🐭

How to Compare Lengths

  1. Line them up! Place the objects next to each other. Make sure their starting points are even.
  2. Look at the ends. See which object's end goes farther.
  3. Decide: The object that goes farther is longer. The other one is shorter.

Let's Look at Examples

Example 1: Pencils

You have a red pencil and a blue pencil.

  1. You line them up so the erasers are at the same spot.
  2. You see the red pencil's tip sticks out farther.
  3. So, the red pencil is longer. The blue pencil is shorter.

Example 2: Ribbons

A green ribbon is 5 blocks long. A yellow ribbon is 3 blocks long.

  1. You can imagine lining them up, block by block.
  2. 5 is a bigger number than 3.
  3. So, the green ribbon is longer. The yellow ribbon is shorter.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Not lining up the start: If you don't line up the objects at one end, you can't tell which is truly longer! Always check the starting point.

🚫 Confusing longer and taller: "Longer" usually means from end to end. "Taller" means from bottom to top. A snake is long, a giraffe is tall!

Tips & Tricks

💡 Use Your Body! You can use your hands to show "long" (arms wide) and "short" (hands close together).

💡 Bigger Number = Longer: If you measure with blocks or a ruler, the object with the bigger number is the longer one.

💡 Find a Helper: Use a piece of string to measure a curvy object, then compare the string's length to another object!

How to Practice

  • Compare your toys! Which toy car is longer? Which stuffed animal is shorter?
  • Compare things in your home. Is a spoon longer or shorter than a fork?
  • Draw two lines on paper and ask a friend which one is longer.
  • Play "I Spy" with lengths: "I spy something longer than my pencil!" ✏️

Practice problems

6 of the 100, worked through step by step — try them before opening the answer.

1 8 + 7 = ?

Hint: Think about making a group of ten first. For example, if you have 6 and 5, you can take 4 from the 5 to make 6 into 10, then add the leftover 1.

Show the answer

Answer: 15

  1. Start with the first number, which is 8.
  2. We need to add 7 to 8.
  3. To make it easier, we can break 7 into two parts: 2 and 5.
  4. First, add 2 to 8: 8 + 2 = 10.
  5. Now, add the remaining 5 to 10: 10 + 5 = 15.
  6. So, 8 + 7 = 15. Final Answer: 15

2 7 + 9 = ?

Hint: Think about how you can make a ten to help you add.

Show the answer

Answer: 16

  1. Start with the number 7.
  2. To add 9, you can take 3 from the 9 to make 7 into 10. (7 + 3 = 10)
  3. Now you have 10, and you have 6 left from the 9 (because 9 - 3 = 6).
  4. Add the 6 to the 10. 10 + 6 = 16.

The answer is 16.

3 Which is longer: a blue ribbon or a red ribbon?

Hint: Look carefully at the two ribbons. Imagine placing them side by side to see which one stretches farther.

Show the answer

Answer: blue ribbon

  1. Look at the blue ribbon and the red ribbon.
  2. Imagine placing them next to each other so their starting points line up.
  3. Compare the other ends: the blue ribbon reaches farther than the red ribbon.
  4. So the blue ribbon is longer.

The answer is the blue ribbon.

4 Which is longer: a red ribbon or a blue ribbon?

Hint: Imagine placing the two ribbons side by side. The one that stretches farther from one end to the other is longer.

Show the answer

Answer: red ribbon

  1. Look at the red ribbon and the blue ribbon.
  2. Place them next to each other, lining up one end.
  3. Compare the other ends. The ribbon that reaches farther is longer.
  4. The red ribbon reaches farther than the blue ribbon.

The answer is the red ribbon.

5 Which is longer: Tane's pencil or Kaia's crayon?

Hint: Look at the two objects and compare their lengths from one end to the other. Which one stretches farther?

Show the answer

Answer: Tane's pencil

  1. Look at Tane's pencil and Kaia's crayon side by side.
  2. Compare the ends of both objects. The pencil reaches farther than the crayon.
  3. Since the pencil is longer,

the answer is Tane's pencil.

6 Which is longer: Emma's ribbon or Liam's ribbon?

Hint: Look carefully at the two ribbons. Imagine placing them side by side. Which one stretches out farther?

Show the answer

Answer: Emma's ribbon

  1. Look at Emma's ribbon and Liam's ribbon.
  2. Compare their lengths by imagining them next to each other.
  3. Emma's ribbon reaches farther than Liam's ribbon.
  4. So Emma's ribbon is longer.

The answer is Emma's ribbon.

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