Maya is measuring the plants in her garden.
Practice solving length word problems and check your answers instantly. Use the questions below to practice addition, subtraction, and comparing measurements in inches.
The tallest sunflower in Maya's garden is 64 inches tall. The pumpkin vine is 38 inches shorter than the tallest sunflower. How long is the pumpkin vine?
Hint: Subtract 38 inches from 64 inches.
Maya planted a small tomato plant that is 17 inches tall. Three weeks later, it grew 25 more inches. How tall is the tomato plant now?
Hint: Add 17 inches and 25 inches.
Maya's sunflower is 64 inches tall. Her neighbor's sunflower is 89 inches tall. How much taller is the neighbor's sunflower than Maya's?
Hint: Subtract Maya's sunflower height from her neighbor's height.
Length word problems use measurements to help students find an unknown length or compare two different measurements. To solve a length word problem, first identify the measurements that are given and determine what the question is asking you to find.
When a problem says that one object is shorter than another, subtraction can be used to find the missing length. When an object grows by a certain number of inches, addition can be used to find its new length. When comparing two measurements, subtract the smaller measurement from the larger measurement to find the difference.
This length word problems worksheet provides practice with addition and subtraction involving measurements in inches. Students solve problems based on a simple garden story involving the height of sunflowers, a pumpkin vine, and a tomato plant.
These measurement word problems can be used for classroom practice, independent math work, homework, math centres, or review. Students can complete the printable worksheet and then use the interactive questions on this page to check their understanding.
What are length word problems?
Length word problems are math problems involving measurements. Students use information about the length or height of objects to find an unknown measurement or compare different measurements.
How do you solve a length word problem?
Read the problem carefully, identify the measurements that are given, determine what you need to find, and choose the appropriate operation. Addition and subtraction are commonly used when working with length measurements.
What operation is used when something is shorter?
Subtraction is used when you need to find a length that is a certain number of inches shorter than another length.
What operation is used when something grows?
Addition is used when a measurement increases by a stated amount. Add the original measurement and the amount of growth to find the new measurement.