Length word problems within 100 · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Solving length word problems

Mathematics · Measurement · ages 7-8
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. The rope is 45 cm long. I cut off 18 cm. How long is it now in centimetres?

    Answer: ______________

  2. The rope is 45 cm long. 18 cm is cut off. Which equation matches?

    • 45 - 18 = ?
    • 18 - 45 = ?
    • 45 + 18 = ?
    • 18 + 18 = ?

  3. A ribbon is 30 cm long. You cut off 10 cm. How long is it now?

    • 10 cm
    • 20 cm
    • 40 cm

  4. In a word problem, if a piece is cut off a rope, you should add the numbers to find what's left.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. A stick is 62 cm long. 29 cm breaks off. How long is the rest in centimetres?

    Answer: ______________

  6. A board is 68 cm long. After a piece is cut off, 41 cm is left. Which equation finds the length cut off, using n for the unknown?

    • n − 68 = 41
    • 68 + n = 41
    • 68 − n = 41

  7. A ribbon is 80 cm long. 35 cm is used. How much ribbon is left?

    • 55 cm
    • 115 cm
    • 45 cm
    • 35 cm

  8. Ben writes ? = 90 - 34 for this story: a 90 cm string loses 34 cm. Is his equation right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  9. Mia says: 'A ribbon is 24 cm long. I add a 16 cm piece, so the total is 24 − 16 = 8 cm.' What mistake did Mia make?

    • She should have added: 24 + 16 = 40 cm
    • She should have used bigger numbers
    • She made no mistake

  10. A shelf is 100 cm wide. Books fill 58 cm of it. How many centimetres are free?

    Answer: ______________

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Solving length word problems W1-mt_DLcEzmmj2r-s1

  1. 27 · 45 - 18 = 27 cm.
  2. 45 - 18 = ? · Cutting off means subtract the cut part from the start: 45 - 18 = ?.
  3. 20 cm · Cutting off means subtract: 30 − 10 = 20 cm left.
  4. False · Cutting off makes the rope shorter, so you subtract, not add.
  5. 33 · 62 - 29 = 33 cm.
  6. 68 − n = 41 · Start length minus the missing piece equals what's left: 68 − n = 41.
  7. 45 cm · 80 - 35 = 45 cm.
  8. True · Ben is right. Losing means subtract, with ? for the unknown left over.
  9. She should have added: 24 + 16 = 40 cm · Adding a piece makes the ribbon longer, so Mia needed to add, not subtract.
  10. 42 · The matching equation is 100 - 58 = ?, and 100 - 58 = 42.
Worksheet · LightMySky