Long and Short
Measurement: Long and Short
Long and Short
Long and Short
NCERT anchor: NCERT Joyful Mathematics Class 1 — Chapter 10: Fun with Measurement (comparing lengths)
What you'll learn
- Compare two objects and say which is longer or shorter.
- Compare people or objects by height — taller or shorter.
- Put three or more objects in order from shortest to longest.
Key concepts
1. Comparing two lengths
Place two objects side by side, starting from the same point. The one that reaches further is longer; the other is shorter.
2. Longer, shorter, taller
We say longer/shorter for things lying down (a pencil, a road) and taller/shorter for things standing up (a person, a tree).
3. Ordering three objects
To arrange from shortest to longest, compare them two at a time: find the shortest first, then compare the rest.
4. Measuring without a scale
Class 1 does not use a ruler yet — we compare using our eyes, hands, or by placing objects side by side (non-standard comparison).
Worked example
Comparing school items
Step 1 — Place a pencil and a school bag side by side on the floor.
Step 2 — Line up one end of each object at the same starting line.
Step 3 — Look at which object's other end reaches further.
Step 4 — The school bag reaches further than the pencil.
Answer: The school bag is longer than the pencil; the pencil is shorter.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Not starting both objects from the same line | Comparing from different starting points gives a wrong answer | Always line up one end of both objects together before comparing |
| Mixing up "longer" and "taller" | Both mean "more length" but are used differently | Use "taller" for standing objects and "longer" for lying-down objects |
| Guessing without comparing side by side | Relying only on memory | Always place the objects next to each other before deciding |
Quick check
- Which is longer: a matchstick or a cricket bat?
- Which is taller: an ant or an elephant?
- Which is shorter: a shoelace or a school bus?
- Stretch: Arrange a matchstick, a pencil, and a table leg from shortest to longest.
Revision tip: Compare everyday objects at home side by side and say out loud which is longer and which is shorter.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Long and Short.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
- Common mistakes
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