Measurements need units so everyone understands them. Small things, like a leaf, are measured in centimetres (cm). Bigger things, like how far a paper plane flies, are measured in metres (m). There are 100 centimetres in a metre.
Use the right tool: a ruler for short lengths and a tape measure for long ones. Record each measurement in a table with the unit. Then you can compare results, find the biggest and smallest, and work out the difference between them by subtracting.
Worked example
Plane A flew 6 m and plane B flew 4 m. How much further did plane A fly?
- Both are measured in metres.
- 6 − 4 = 2.
Answer:Plane A flew 2 m further.
Key words
- unit
- what a measurement is counted in, like cm or m
- metre (m)
- 100 centimetres
- tape measure
- a long, bendy measuring tool
- difference
- how much bigger one amount is than another
Practise this
New questions every time.