Compare Measurements

Grade 2 · measurement · 81 practice problems · read aloud

🔊 Listen to this explanation

Compare Measurements 📏

What is Comparing Measurements?

Comparing measurements means looking at two objects and figuring out which one is longer, shorter, taller, or heavier. We do this to help us describe and understand the world around us! 🏠🌳

How to Compare: Step-by-Step

  1. Look at the objects: What are you comparing? (e.g., a pencil and a crayon)
  2. Choose what to compare: Are you looking at length, height, or weight?
  3. Measure or observe: Use a ruler for length/height or a scale for weight. Sometimes you can just look!
  4. Use comparison words: Decide which is longer/shorter or heavier/lighter.

Let's See Some Examples!

Example 1: Length

A red ribbon is 15 inches long. A blue ribbon is 10 inches long.

Step 1: Look at the numbers: 15 and 10.

Step 2: Compare: 15 is greater than 10.

Answer: The red ribbon is longer. The blue ribbon is shorter.

Example 2: Height

Sam is 48 inches tall. Lia is 52 inches tall.

Step 1: Look at the numbers: 48 and 52.

Step 2: Compare: 52 is greater than 48.

Answer: Lia is taller. Sam is shorter.

⚠️ Watch Out for These Mistakes!

  • Mixing up the labels: Saying "longer" when you mean "heavier." Remember: longer/shorter is for how far something stretches, and heavier/lighter is for how much it weighs.
  • Not checking the units: Make sure both measurements use the same unit (like inches or centimeters) before you compare!

🌟 Tips & Tricks

  • Alligator Mouth 🐊: The alligator's mouth always opens to eat the bigger number! 15 > 10 means 15 is bigger.
  • Handy Rhyme: "When the numbers are in sight, the bigger number is the greater height!"
  • Draw a picture if you're not sure! Seeing the objects can help a lot.

How to Practice

You can practice comparing measurements everywhere!

  • Compare the length of two different shoes in your closet.
  • Find two books and figure out which one is heavier by holding one in each hand.
  • Look at family members—who is taller, and who is shorter?

Practice problems

6 of the 81, worked through step by step — try them before opening the answer.

1 45 + 38 = ?

Hint: Think about adding the tens first, then the ones, and see if you need to combine them.

Show the answer

Answer: 83

  1. Write the numbers vertically in your mind, aligning the digits by place value (ones and tens). 45 + 38
  2. Add the digits in the ones column first: 5 + 8 = 13. 13 is a two-digit number, so we split it into 10 and 3.
  3. Since 13 is 10 + 3, we write down the 3 in the ones place of the answer and carry over the 10 (which is 1 ten) to the tens column.
  4. Now add the digits in the tens column: 4 + 3 = 7, plus the 1 we carried over: 7 + 1 = 8. Write the 8 in the tens place.
  5. Combine the tens digit and ones digit: 8 tens and 3 ones is 83. So, 45 + 38 = 83.

Let's add 45 and 38 step by step.

2 35 + 47 = ?

Hint: Start by adding the ones place digits first, then add the tens place digits.

Show the answer

Answer: 82

  1. Write the numbers vertically in your mind (or on paper): 35 + 47
  2. Start by adding the digits in the ones column (rightmost column): 5 + 7 = 12
  3. Since 12 is a two-digit number, we split it: 12 = 10 + 2
  4. Write down the 2 in the ones place of the answer, and carry over the 1 (from 10) to the tens column.
  5. Now add the digits in the tens column, including the carried-over 1: 3 + 4 + 1 = 8
  6. Write the 8 in the tens place of the answer.
  7. Combine the tens and ones digits:

Let's add 35 and 47 step-by-step. The answer is 82. Final check: 35 + 47 = 82.

3 47 + 38 = ?

Hint: When adding two numbers, start with the ones place and remember to carry over if needed.

Show the answer

Answer: 85

  1. Write the numbers vertically in your mind, aligning the digits by place value (ones and tens). 47 + 38
  2. Add the digits in the ones column first. 7 + 8 = 15
  3. Since 15 is 10 or more, we break it into 1 ten and 5 ones. Write down the 5 in the ones place of the answer, and carry over the 1 ten to the tens column.
  4. Now add the digits in the tens column, including the carried-over 1. 4 + 3 + 1 = 8
  5. Write the 8 in the tens place of the answer.
  6. Combine the tens and ones digits: 8 tens and 5 ones makes 85. Therefore, 47 + 38 = 85.

Let's add 47 and 38 step by step.

4 64 + 29 = ?

Hint: Add the ones digits first, then the tens digits. Remember to regroup if needed.

Show the answer

Answer: 93

  1. Add the ones digits: 4 + 9 = 13. Write down the 3 in the ones place and carry over the 1 to the tens column.
  2. Add the tens digits: 6 + 2 = 8, then add the carried over 1: 8 + 1 = 9. Write the 9 in the tens place.
  3. Combine the tens and ones: 90 + 3 = 93.

The answer is 93.

5 72 - 45 = ?

Hint: Think about subtracting the ones place first, then the tens place. If you need to, you can regroup.

Show the answer

Answer: 27

  1. Start with 72 - 45.
  2. Look at the ones place: 2 - 5. Since 2 is smaller than 5, we need to regroup from the tens place.
  3. Take one ten from the 7 tens, which leaves 6 tens. Add that ten to the 2 ones, making 12 ones.
  4. Now subtract the ones: 12 - 5 = 7.
  5. Now subtract the tens: 6 (from the regrouped tens) - 4 = 2.
  6. Combine the tens and ones: 2 tens and 7 ones is 27.

The answer is 27.

6 72 - 48 = ?

Hint: Think about subtracting the ones place first, then the tens place. If you need to borrow from the tens, remember to adjust both numbers.

Show the answer

Answer: 24

  1. Write the problem vertically: 72 - 48.
  2. Look at the ones column: 2 - 8. Since 2 is smaller than 8, we need to borrow from the tens column.
  3. Borrow 1 from the 7 in the tens column. The 7 becomes 6, and the 2 in the ones column becomes 12.
  4. Now subtract the ones column: 12 - 8 = 4.
  5. Now subtract the tens column: 6 - 4 = 2.
  6. Combine the results from the tens and ones columns: 2 tens and 4 ones is 24.

The answer is 24.

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