Step-by-step Maths Level 3: Ordering lengths and masses
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 3 length and mass chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Ordering lengths and masses
To put lengths or masses in order, change them all to the same unit first.
Then put the numbers in order, and write the measurements the way they were given.
Key ideas
- Change to the same unit.
- Order the numbers.
- Write the measurements in order.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.2 m = 200 cm, 1 m 50 cm = 150 cm, 90 cm = 90 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.90, 150, 200
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.90 cm, 1 m 50 cm, 2 m
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.500 g = 500 g, 1 kg = 1000 g, 750 g = 750 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.500, 750, 1000
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.500 g, 750 g, 1 kg
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.3 m = 300 cm, 2 m 80 cm = 280 cm, 2 m 50 cm = 250 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.300, 280, 250
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.3 m, 2 m 80 cm, 2 m 50 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Watch out
Watch out. 1 kg is less than 1 kg 500 g. Do not look only at the first number.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write each measure on a card and move the cards into order. Ask: “Which one is first, and why?”
Exercise 9D Practice: ordering lengths and masses
Non-calculatorMethod. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.2 m 75 cm = 275 cm, 2 m 50 cm = 250 cm, 3 m 50 cm = 350 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.350, 275, 250
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.3 m 50 cm, 2 m 75 cm, 2 m 50 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.3 m 20 cm = 320 cm, 50 cm = 50 cm, 1 m 75 cm = 175 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.320, 175, 50
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.3 m 20 cm, 1 m 75 cm, 50 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.3 kg 250 g = 3250 g, 2 kg 500 g = 2500 g, 1 kg 800 g = 1800 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.3250, 2500, 1800
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.3 kg 250 g, 2 kg 500 g, 1 kg 800 g
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 kg 500 g = 1500 g, 800 g = 800 g, 1 kg = 1000 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.800, 1000, 1500
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.800 g, 1 kg, 1 kg 500 g
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 m = 100 cm, 2 m 50 cm = 250 cm, 50 cm = 50 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.250, 100, 50
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.2 m 50 cm, 1 m, 50 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 kg 800 g = 1800 g, 800 g = 800 g, 2 kg 500 g = 2500 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.800, 1800, 2500
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.800 g, 1 kg 800 g, 2 kg 500 g
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.3 m 20 cm = 320 cm, 3 m = 300 cm, 1 m 20 cm = 120 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.120, 300, 320
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.1 m 20 cm, 3 m, 3 m 20 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.20 cm = 20 cm, 2 m 50 cm = 250 cm, 2 m 75 cm = 275 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.20, 250, 275
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.20 cm, 2 m 50 cm, 2 m 75 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.75 cm = 75 cm, 2 m = 200 cm, 2 m 50 cm = 250 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.250, 200, 75
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.2 m 50 cm, 2 m, 75 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 m 20 cm = 120 cm, 3 m 75 cm = 375 cm, 20 cm = 20 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.20, 120, 375
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.20 cm, 1 m 20 cm, 3 m 75 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 kg 800 g = 1800 g, 2 kg 500 g = 2500 g, 500 g = 500 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.2500, 1800, 500
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.2 kg 500 g, 1 kg 800 g, 500 g
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 kg = 1000 g, 2 kg = 2000 g, 1 kg 500 g = 1500 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.2000, 1500, 1000
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.2 kg, 1 kg 500 g, 1 kg
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 m 20 cm = 120 cm, 3 m = 300 cm, 50 cm = 50 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.50, 120, 300
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.50 cm, 1 m 20 cm, 3 m
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.1 kg = 1000 g, 250 g = 250 g, 2 kg = 2000 g
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.250, 1000, 2000
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.250 g, 1 kg, 2 kg
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.2 m = 200 cm, 3 m = 300 cm, 3 m 50 cm = 350 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.200, 300, 350
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.2 m, 3 m, 3 m 50 cm
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.
Method. Change every measurement to the same unit, then order the numbers.
- Change them all to the same unit. Use the smallest unit so the numbers are easy to compare.75 cm = 75 cm, 3 m = 300 cm, 1 m = 100 cm
- Put the numbers in order. Compare the numbers, then write the measurements in that order.75, 100, 300
- Write the order. Write the original measurements in order.75 cm, 1 m, 3 m
Check. Read the list again: each one is bigger or smaller than the one before, as the question asks.
Watch out. Change to the same unit before you order. 2 m is bigger than 150 cm.