How Well Can You Measure? - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step.

We are given a standard set of measuring cups:
- 1 cup (1 c.)
- ½ cup (½ c.)
- ⅓ cup (⅓ c.)
- ¼ cup (¼ c.)

There is no ⅔ cup or ¾ cup, so we must combine these cups to measure the required amounts.

We need to determine which combination(s) of these measuring cups add up to each listed amount. Then, we place a check mark under the cup(s) used.

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Step 1: Understand what combinations we can make

Let’s look at possible combinations:

- 1 c. = 1 c.
- ½ c. = ½ c.
- ⅓ c. = ⅓ c.
- ¼ c. = ¼ c.

Now let’s find ways to make other amounts using only these four.

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Now go through each amount:

#### 1) 1 c.
- Use 1 c. cup directly.
✔ Check: 1 c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 1) 1 c. | ✔ | | | |

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#### 2) 3/4 c.
We don’t have a ¾ cup, but:
- ½ + ¼ = 0.5 + 0.25 = 0.75 = ¾ c.

So use ½ c. and ¼ c.

✔ Check: ½ c. and ¼ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 2) 3/4 c. | | ✔ | | ✔ |

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#### 3) ½ c.
Use the ½ c. cup directly.

✔ Check: ½ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 3) ½ c. | | ✔ | | |

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#### 4) 2/3 c.
We don’t have a ⅔ cup. Let's see:
- ⅓ + ⅓ = ⅔ → but we only have one ⅓ cup.
- Can we use other combinations?

Try:
- ½ + ⅓ = 5/6 ≈ 0.833 → too big
- ½ + ¼ = ¾ = 0.75 → less than ⅔ ≈ 0.666? No, ¾ = 0.75 > ⅔ ≈ 0.666

Wait: ⅔ ≈ 0.666...

Can we get ⅔?
- ⅓ + ⅓ = ⅔ → but only one ⅓ cup available.
- Try: ½ + ⅓ = 5/6 → too much
- ½ + ¼ = ¾ → too much
- ⅓ + ¼ = 7/12 ≈ 0.583 → too small

Hmm. Is there a way?

Wait — perhaps we can use multiple cups, but we’re limited to the standard ones.

But here's an idea: maybe double the ⅓ cup? But we only have one ⅓ cup.

So unless we can use the same cup twice, we can't do it.

But in real life, you might use the ⅓ cup twice to make ⅔.

But the table has only one column for ⅓ c., so if we use it twice, do we check it once?

Yes — we assume we can use the same cup multiple times, as long as we check it.

So to get ⅔ c., we use ⅓ c. twice.

So check ⅓ c. (and only that).

✔ Check: ⅓ c. (used twice)

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 4) 2/3 c. | | | ✔ | |

(Explanation: ⅓ + ⅓ = ⅔)

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#### 5) 1/3 c.
Use the ⅓ c. cup directly.

✔ Check: ⅓ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 5) 1/3 c. | | | ✔ | |

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#### 6) ¼ c.
Use the ¼ c. cup directly.

✔ Check: ¼ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 6) ¼ c. | | | | ✔ |

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#### 7) 1 1/3 c.
That’s 1 + ⅓ = 4/3 c.

We can use:
- 1 c. + ⅓ c.

✔ Check: 1 c. and ⅓ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 7) 1 1/3 c. | ✔ | | ✔ | |

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#### 8) 2 ¾ c.
That’s 2 + ¾ = 2 + ½ + ¼ = 2 + 0.5 + 0.25 = 2.75

So:
- Use two 1 c. cups → 2 c.
- Then ½ c. and ¼ c. → ¾ c.

So total: 1 c. (×2), ½ c., ¼ c.

But we only have one column for 1 c., so we just check 1 c., meaning we use it twice.

Similarly, check ½ c. and ¼ c.

✔ Check: 1 c., ½ c., ¼ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 8) 2 ¾ c. | ✔ | ✔ | | ✔ |

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#### 9) 1 2/3 c.
That’s 1 + ⅔ = 1 + ⅓ + ⅓

So:
- 1 c. + ⅓ c. + ⅓ c.

But again, we only have one ⅓ cup, but we can use it twice.

So:
- 1 c. + ⅓ c. (used twice)

✔ Check: 1 c. and ⅓ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 9) 1 2/3 c. | ✔ | | ✔ | |

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#### 10) 2 ½ c.
That’s 2 + ½ = 2.5 c.

We can do:
- Two 1 c. cups → 2 c.
- One ½ c. cup → 0.5 c.

So total: 1 c. (×2), ½ c.

Check: 1 c. and ½ c.

✔ Check: 1 c. and ½ c.

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 10) 2 ½ c. | ✔ | ✔ | | |

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Final Answer Table:

| Amount | 1 c. | ½ c. | ⅓ c. | ¼ c. |
|--------|------|------|------|------|
| 1) 1 c. | ✔ | | | |
| 2) 3/4 c. | | ✔ | | ✔ |
| 3) ½ c. | | ✔ | | |
| 4) 2/3 c. | | | ✔ | |
| 5) 1/3 c. | | | ✔ | |
| 6) ¼ c. | | | | ✔ |
| 7) 1 1/3 c. | ✔ | | ✔ | |
| 8) 2 ¾ c. | ✔ | ✔ | | ✔ |
| 9) 1 2/3 c. | ✔ | | ✔ | |
| 10) 2 ½ c. | ✔ | ✔ | | |

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Explanation Summary:

- We use combinations of the standard measuring cups: 1 c., ½ c., ⅓ c., ¼ c.
- We can use the same cup more than once (e.g., ⅓ c. twice for ⅔ c.)
- For each amount, we identify which cups add up to it.
- We put a check mark under each cup used, even if used multiple times.

This shows how fractions work in real-life measuring!