Solving measurement and
time problems.
Measurement Problems
• A farmer buys 2.5 km of wire for fencing.
He uses 850m in one
field...
…and 1.25km in
another.
How much wire does he have left?
• A farmer buys 2.5 km of wire for fencing. He uses 850m in
one field and 1.25km in another – how much does he have
left?
Convert the units so that all the measurements are
in the same unit:
2.5km = 2500m
850m
1.25km = 1250m
Do the calculations:
2500 – 850 = 1650
1650 – 1250 = 400m or 0.4km
Don’t forget the units in your answer!
How do you work out the answer to a word
problem?
1. Read the question.
2. Convert the units in the question so that all the units
are the same, if possible.
3. Decide what operation(s) to use.
4. Write down the calculation(s) you are going to do.
Use brackets if you need to.
5. Work out the approximate answer.
6. Decide how you will work out the calculation.
7. Ask: Can I do it in my head?
8. Do the calculation and interpret the answer. Include any
units (e.g. km).
9. Ask: Does the answer make sense?
Time Problems
• Mr Jones leaves his house at 7.30am to
travel to school. He arrives at school at
8.07am – how long does his journey take?
• Answer: 37 minutes
• How did you work it out?
• You could have used a time line…
+ 30 mins
+ 7 mins
7.30am
8.00am
8.07am
•Use a time line to help you solve this problem:
•My dad is going to pick me up from the cinema
after the film has finished. The film starts at
4.45pm and is 1 hour, 20 minutes long. What
time shall I tell my dad to meet me?
+ 1 hour
+ 15 mins
4.45pm
5.45pm
+ 5 mins
6.00pm
6.05pm
Try this one!
A train leaves London Victoria Station at 8.03am, it
arrives in Chatham at 9.35am – how long did the
train journey take?
+ 1 hour
8.03am
9.03am
+30 mins
9.33am
+2 mins
9.35am
Total journey
time =
1 hour, 32
minutes
Use the time line method to help you solve the
problems on page 81 & 82 of your textbooks.