CBSE Class 2 Mathematics NCERT Solutions: Chapter 13 - The Longest Step

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 2 PDF

This chapter, 'The Longest Step,' for CBSE Class 2 Mathematics, focuses on introducing young learners to the fundamental concepts of measurement. The NCERT Solutions guide students through practical activities to understand and compare lengths and heights using non-standard units like steps, handspans, and fingers. It encourages observation of the surroundings to estimate and measure various objects, fostering an intuitive understanding of measurement. The solutions provide a step-by-step approach to activities, helping students grasp the idea of relative sizes and distances. These solutions are designed to make learning about measurement engaging and accessible, aiding students in their exam preparation by reinforcing these foundational concepts through hands-on exploration.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 2
SubjectMathematics
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 13

Chapter summary

Chapter 13, 'The Longest Step,' in the CBSE Class 2 Mathematics curriculum introduces basic measurement concepts. The NCERT Solutions cover activities related to comparing lengths and heights using non-standard units such as steps, handspans, and fingers. Students learn to estimate and measure everyday objects, encouraging observation and practical application of measurement skills. The exercises aim to build an intuitive understanding of relative sizes and distances, preparing students for more formal measurement techniques later on.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the concept of measuring length and height.
  • Compare the lengths of different objects using non-standard units.
  • Use steps, handspans, and fingers to measure distances.
  • Estimate and measure everyday objects around them.
  • Differentiate between longer and shorter lengths.
  • Develop observational skills for measurement.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Introduction to Measurement
  • Comparing Lengths
  • Comparing Heights
  • Non-Standard Units of Measurement
  • Steps as a Unit
  • Handspans as a Unit
  • Fingers as a Unit
  • Estimating Lengths
  • Measuring Everyday Objects
  • Relative Size Comparison

Important topics

  • Understanding Non-Standard Units (Steps, Handspans, Fingers)
  • Comparing Lengths and Heights
  • Estimating and Measuring Objects
  • Practical Application of Measurement

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Make a group of 3-4 friends. Find out by drawing lines whose step is the longest.
Solution:

To find out whose step is the longest, follow these steps:

  1. Gather 3-4 friends in an open space where you can walk a few steps.
  2. Each friend should take one normal step forward.
  3. You can mark the starting point and the point where each person's foot lands after one step.
  4. Alternatively, you can draw lines on the floor representing the length of each person's step.
  5. Compare the lengths of the lines or the distance covered by each step. The longest line or the furthest distance covered by a step belongs to the person with the longest step.

This activity helps in comparing lengths using a non-standard unit (steps) and understanding relative sizes.

Question 2

Find the distance between (a) the door and any window of your class (b) the blackboard and where you are sitting.
Solution:

This question involves measuring distances in your classroom using non-standard units. Here's how you can approach it:

(a) Distance between the door and any window of your class:

  1. Choose a window in your classroom.
  2. Stand at the door and take steps towards the chosen window.
  3. Count the number of steps it takes to reach the window.
  4. You can also use your handspans or feet to measure this distance and count how many handspans or feet fit between the door and the window.
  5. Record your measurement (e.g., 'It is 10 steps from the door to the window').

(b) Distance between the blackboard and where you are sitting:

  1. Stand at the blackboard.
  2. Walk towards your seat, taking normal steps.
  3. Count the number of steps you take to reach your seat.
  4. You can also measure this distance using handspans or feet and count them.
  5. Record your measurement (e.g., 'It is 5 steps from the blackboard to my seat').

Remember, the number of steps, handspans, or feet will be different for each person, as these are non-standard units.

Question 1 (Page 106)

Can he use a handspan to find the length of all these?
Solution:

Yes, Rajat can use a handspan to find the length of many things. A handspan is a non-standard unit of measurement, which is the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the fingers are stretched out wide.

While a handspan is useful for measuring shorter objects or distances, it might be less practical for very long things. However, for many common objects found in a classroom or home, a handspan can provide a reasonable estimate of their length or height.

Question 2 (Page 106)

Which things around you are less than your handspan? Name them.
Solution:

This is an activity to observe and measure objects using your handspan. Things that are shorter than your handspan are typically small items. Here are some examples of things you might find around you that are less than your handspan:

  • An eraser
  • A pencil (part of it, or a short pencil)
  • A sharpener
  • A chalk stick
  • A matchstick
  • A coin
  • A button
  • A key

You should try to measure these items with your handspan to confirm they are indeed shorter.

Question 3 (Page 106)

What would you use to find the length of those things?
Solution:

For things that are very small and shorter than your handspan, like an eraser, a sharpener, or a matchstick, you would need a more precise measuring tool. Common tools used for finding the length of such small items include:

  • A ruler (or scale): This is a straight edge with markings in standard units like centimetres (cm) and millimetres (mm). It is ideal for measuring small objects accurately.
  • A measuring tape: While often used for longer items, a flexible measuring tape can also be used for smaller, curved, or irregular objects.

Using a ruler or a measuring tape allows for more accurate measurements compared to non-standard units like handspans or fingers for very small objects.

Question 4 (Page 106)

• Who made the highest mud house? • Whose mud house is the smallest?
Solution:

This question refers to an activity where students likely built mud houses and then compared their heights. To answer this, you would need to know the heights of the mud houses made by different students.

  • Who made the highest mud house? To find this, compare the heights of all the mud houses. The student whose mud house is the tallest made the highest mud house.
  • Whose mud house is the smallest? Similarly, compare the heights of all the mud houses. The student whose mud house is the shortest made the smallest mud house.

This exercise helps in understanding the concepts of 'highest' and 'smallest' by comparing heights, likely measured using non-standard units like handspans or fingers.

Question 5 (Page 106)

Make a Guess: See these two coconut trees. If the bigger tree is 6 metres high, about how high is the smaller tree?
Solution:

Observing the image, the smaller coconut tree appears to be roughly half the height of the bigger coconut tree.

Given that the bigger tree is 6 metres high, we can estimate the height of the smaller tree.

If the smaller tree is about half the height of the bigger tree, then its height would be approximately:

Height of smaller tree ≈ \frac{1}{2} × Height of bigger tree

Height of smaller tree ≈ \frac{1}{2} × 6 metres

Height of smaller tree ≈ 3 metres

Answer: The smaller tree is about 3 metres high.

Question 1 (Page 107)

Check Your Guess: Guess the length or height of the things shown below. Find the length to check your answer.
Solution:

This is a practical activity designed to help you practice estimating and measuring lengths using different non-standard units. You need to fill in the table based on your own guesses and measurements.

Here's how to complete the table:

  1. Look at each thing shown in the pictures (Glass, Bucket, Your hand, Teacher's table, Your nose, Water bottle, Your hair).
  2. Guess the length or height: Before measuring, guess how long or high each item is. Write your guess in the 'My guess' column using the suggested unit (fingers, handspans, matchsticks).
  3. Measure and check: Now, use the suggested unit to measure the actual length or height of each thing. For example, use your fingers to measure the height of a glass, or use handspans to measure the length of a table.
  4. Record the result: Write your actual measurement in the 'My result' column.

Example for 'Glass':

  • My guess (in fingers): 5 fingers
  • My result (in fingers): 6 fingers

Example for 'Bucket':

  • My guess (in handspans): 4 handspans
  • My result (in handspans): 5 handspans

Example for 'Teacher's table':

  • My guess (in handspans): 8 handspans
  • My result (in handspans): 9 handspans

Example for 'Your nose':

  • My guess (in fingers): 1 finger
  • My result (in fingers): 1 finger

Example for 'Water bottle':

  • My guess (in fingers): 10 fingers
  • My result (in fingers): 12 fingers

Example for 'Your hair':

  • My guess (in handspans): 2 handspans
  • My result (in handspans): 3 handspans

This activity helps you understand the difference between guessing and actual measurement, and how different units give different numbers for the same length.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'longer' and 'shorter' measurements.
  • Inconsistent use of non-standard units within a single measurement.
  • Difficulty in accurately estimating lengths before measuring.
  • Not understanding that different non-standard units yield different numerical results for the same object.

Revision tips

  • Practice measuring various classroom objects using your steps, handspans, and fingers.
  • Compare your measurements with those of your friends to understand variations.
  • Try to guess the length of objects before you measure them.
  • Focus on understanding the concept of 'longest' and 'shortest' in practical contexts.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which unit of measurement is typically used for comparing the length of steps between friends?

Q2. If a door is longer than a window, which measurement would be greater?

Q3. Which of the following is a non-standard unit of length?

Q4. What is the primary goal of activities involving measuring with fingers or handspans in this chapter?

Q5. If a teacher's table is measured in handspans and found to be 5 handspans long, what does this indicate?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main topic of Chapter 13 for Class 2 Mathematics?

Chapter 13, 'The Longest Step,' introduces Class 2 students to the basic concepts of measuring length and height using non-standard units like steps, handspans, and fingers.

Why are non-standard units like steps and handspans used in this chapter?

Non-standard units are used to help young students develop an intuitive understanding of measurement and to compare lengths and heights in a practical, hands-on way before introducing standard units.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers and explanations for each question, guiding students through the activities and reinforcing their understanding of measurement concepts for better learning and revision.

What kind of activities are included in Chapter 13?

The chapter includes activities like comparing the length of steps among friends, measuring distances like the door to a window, and estimating/measuring various objects using handspans and fingers.

Are the questions in the source document the same as in these solutions?

Yes, the questions in these NCERT Solutions are kept exactly the same as in the source document, with expanded wording for clarity, while the solutions themselves have been rewritten to be more helpful.

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.