Skill: Order objects by length

To order objects by length, compare them from the same starting point.

1. Put one end of each object at the same place.
2. Look at the other ends.
3. The object that ends first is the shortest.
4. The object that reaches farthest is the longest.

Example: We have three ribbons:

• Ribbon A is $5$ cubes long.
• Ribbon B is $8$ cubes long.
• Ribbon C is $6$ cubes long.

Line up one end of all three ribbons. Compare the other ends:

• Ribbon A is shorter than Ribbon C because $5<6$.
• Ribbon C is shorter than Ribbon B because $6<8$.
• So Ribbon A is also shorter than Ribbon B.

From shortest to longest, the order is:

$$\text{Ribbon A},\ \text{Ribbon C},\ \text{Ribbon B}$$