Measurement word problems
These are small stories about length, mass and water. Read carefully, then compare or add the numbers.
Key idea
Four steps: 1) read, 2) plan (compare or add?), 3) work it out, 4) check.
A worked story
Worked example
Ali's ribbon is 8 cm. Sara's ribbon is 5 cm. Whose is longer? 8 is more than 5, so Ali's ribbon is longer. It is 8 − 5 = 3 cm longer.
Remember
- "How much longer/heavier" → subtract.
- "Altogether/in all" → add.
- Keep the same unit in your answer.