Measuring Length

We will discuss about measuring length. Suppose children are running a race of 100 meter (m). Sam is measuring the height of the wall in meters. The length is measured in meters.  A meter is too long to be drawn here. Small lengths are measured in centimeters. Ron is measuring the width of his book in centimeters.

100 centimeters equal 1 meter

                    or

1 meter equal 100 centimeters

We write centimeter in short form as ‘cm’ and meter as ‘m’. So we can write in short as;

100 (cm) equal 1 (m)

               or

1 (m) equal 100 (cm)

The following are three kinds of meter scales generally used by everyone.

(i) A meter rod which is made of iron or wood is used by cloth merchants for measuring cloth. (ii) A meter scale is used by masons or carpenters. (iii) A meter scale is used by tailors.

Meter Scales

Metre is the standard unit for measuring length.

We write m for metre. We use metres to measure longer lengths.

We measure smaller lengths, like that of a pencil, in centimetres. This is a centimetre scale. Centimetre is written as cm.

This pencil is 8 cm long.

This frame is long _____ cm.	This frame is _____ cm wide.

Measure the length of the picture of this Christmas tree.

The Christmas tree is _____ cm long.

Decide whether you will measure the length of following objects in metre or centimetre. Put tick (✔) mark against the correct box.

Extra Questions for Sharp Students on Measuring Length!

1. Write Meter or Centimeter in the blank Space:

(i) My pencil is 10 ____________ long.

(ii) My height is 90 ____________.

(iii) Our classroom is 5 ____________ long.

(iv) This tree is 3 ____________ high.

(v) My hair pin is 3 ____________ long.

2. Measure the following length is centimeters:

Measuring Length

Note:

Students need to use the ruler or scales to measure the length.

1. Measure the length of each pencil using the centimetre scale and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Which is the shortest pencil?

(b) Which is the longest pencil?

(c) _____ pencil is longer than red pencil but shorter than blue pencil. 

(d) Yellow pencil is _____ cm shorter than blue pencil.

Answer:

1.

(a) Yellow pencil (7 cm) is the shortest pencil.

(b) Blue pencil (15 cm) is the longest pencil?

(c) Orange pencil

(d) 8 cm 

2. Measure the following:

Measure the Length

AB is ____ centimeters long. EF is ____ centimeters long. MN is ____ centimeters long. XY is ____ centimeters long.

3. A train is 150 meters long and the platform at the station is 285 meters long. How far does the train travel in crossing the platform?

Answer:

3. 435 meters

4. A cloth is sold at $7 a meter. Find the price of 65 meters of the same cloth?

Answer:

4. 455 meters

2nd Grade Math Practice

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