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⏰ 2nd grade math · Measure, Time & Money

Add and subtract lengths

End to end means add. Cut off means take away. How much longer means take away. Draw the bars if you get stuck.

Worked example

A rope is 9 feet long. A piece 4 feet long is cut off. How long is the rest?
Answer: 5 feet
Cutting off means take away: 9 − 4 = 5. The rest is 5 feet long. Answer: 5 feet.

For grown-ups: Length on the number line; add/subtract lengths. Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

  • CCSS 2.MD.B.5–6
What this practises, for teachers

Practices length on the number line; add/subtract lengths (2.MD.B.5–6). A printable sheet with its answer key, worked answers on the page, no accounts.

▶ Practise it

For your class

🖨️ Printable sheet and key

Try three

  1. A stick is 6 inches long. Another stick is 3 inches long. How much longer is the first stick?
    1st62nd3
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 3 inches
    Find the difference: 6 − 3 = 3. The first stick is 3 inches longer. Answer: 3 inches.
  2. A rope is 32 inches long. Another rope is 10 inches long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 42 inches
    End to end means add: 32 + 10 = 42. Together they are 42 inches long. Answer: 42 inches.
  3. A stick is 34 feet long. Another stick is 36 feet long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 70 feet
    End to end means add: 34 + 36 = 70. Together they are 70 feet long. Answer: 70 feet.

Before and after

Learn first: Measure with a ruler (2nd)

Comes next: Liters and kilograms (3rd)

Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Add and subtract lengths (2nd grade)

  1. A pole is 15 centimeters long. Another pole is 4 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  2. A string is 18 meters long. A piece 8 meters long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  3. A board is 14 feet long. Another board is 3 feet long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  4. A string is 5 centimeters long. Another string is 3 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  5. A board is cut into two pieces. One piece is 20 centimeters long. The whole board was 28 centimeters long. How long is the other piece?
  6. A board is 6 feet long. A piece 3 feet long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  7. A string is 17 meters long. A piece 7 meters long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  8. Three poles are put end to end. They are 24 inches, 17 inches and 28 inches long. How long are they together?
  9. A ribbon is 93 inches long. Another ribbon is 7 inches long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  10. Three boards are put end to end. They are 8 meters, 29 meters and 14 meters long. How long are they together?
  11. A stick is 71 feet long. First 17 feet is cut off. Then 25 feet more is cut off. How long is the stick now?
  12. A pole is 34 feet long. Another pole is 56 feet long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?

Answer key

  1. 19 centimeters
  2. 10 meters
  3. 17 feet
  4. 8 centimeters
  5. 8 centimeters
  6. 3 feet
  7. 10 meters
  8. 69 inches
  9. 100 inches
  10. 51 meters
  11. 29 feet
  12. 90 feet

More 2nd grade skills: all 2nd grade math skills, or every grade at math skills.