4th Grade · Measurement & Data
4.MD.A.2: Solve word problems about distance, time, liquids, weight, and money
4.MD.A.2 is a 4th grade Common Core math standard in Measurement & Data. Here’s what it really covers, and how you can help your students learn it.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
The standard
Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale.
In plain words
Solve word problems about distance, time, liquids, weight, and money.
Sample questions from student practice
These questions from Bobby's Math Club are the kinds of questions your students will see. You can try answering them to see what a student might see.
Question 1 of 3
At the deli, Leila buys 3/8 pound of cheese and 5/8 pound of turkey. How many pounds of food does she buy in all?
- 8/16 pound
- 1 pound
- 8 pounds
Where students can get stuck
- Subtracting times like ordinary numbers, so 5:20 minus 3:45 becomes 520 − 345 and comes out as 1:75.
- Calculating before converting units, such as dividing 2 liters by 250 milliliters without first changing 2 liters to 2,000 milliliters.
- Lining up money amounts wrongly, treating $6.75 and $5 as 675 and 5, which gives a wildly wrong amount of change.
Effective teaching strategies
- Have students find elapsed time on a number line, jumping from 3:45 to 4:00 and then to 5:20, and add 15 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes to get 1 hour 35 minutes.
- Ask students to circle the units in a problem and change them to the same unit first, such as 2 liters to 2,000 milliliters before dividing by 250 milliliters.
- Line up money amounts by their decimal points, such as $6.75 and $5.00, and have students add or find change from there.
Units that teach this standard
Find where 4.MD.A.2 lands in the program you teach. Each unit has a guide written for families. Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence.
Bridges in Mathematics
enVision Mathematics
Eureka Math
Everyday Mathematics
i-Ready Classroom Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics
Math Expressions
Reveal Math
Don’t see your curriculum? Contact Bobby and we’ll see if we can help!
Share it with families
Families can read Story problems about distance, time, and money for a plain-language look at this skill, with three questions to try together and ideas for helping at home.
Help every student practice measurement and data at home
In Bobby's Math Club, students practice at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free for every family.
See how it works for teachers
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.