Josh's desk is 36 inches tall. When he meaured the desk using a yard stick, it was 1 yard tall. Why did the number decrease when he measured with the yard stick?

The measurement decreased because a yardstick is typically used to measure in yards, and Josh's desk is actually 1 yard tall, which is equivalent to 36 inches. When he measured using a yardstick and saw "1 yard," he was actually seeing the correct height but in a different unit, rather than a decrease in size. So, no worries! Both measurements are accurate, just expressed in different ways! It's important to remember that different measuring tools can show the same length using different units. If Josh were to use a tape measure or a ruler instead, he could see the same height expressed in inches, feet, or other units. This is a great reminder that understanding units of measurement is essential when comparing sizes—whether it's at home, school, or in a science experiment!