What is Shrinking (Making smaller)?

S0-SA2-0766

Grade Level:

Pre-School – Class 2

All domains without exception

Definition

What is it?

Shrinking means making something smaller in size, amount, or quantity. When something shrinks, its original dimensions or value reduce. It's the opposite of growing or expanding.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you have a balloon full of air. If you let some air out, the balloon becomes smaller. This is an example of the balloon shrinking in size.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

PROBLEM: Your mobile data pack started with 10 GB. After using it for a week, you have 3 GB left. How much did your data pack shrink by?
---STEP 1: Identify the starting amount. Starting data = 10 GB.
---STEP 2: Identify the final amount. Final data = 3 GB.
---STEP 3: To find out how much it shrunk, subtract the final amount from the starting amount. Shrinkage = Starting amount - Final amount.
---STEP 4: Calculate: 10 GB - 3 GB = 7 GB.
---ANSWER: Your data pack shrunk by 7 GB.

Why It Matters

Understanding shrinking is important in many fields, from designing smaller, more efficient electronics to managing resources. Engineers use it to make microchips, while economists track how market sizes shrink or grow. It's a fundamental concept in science and everyday life.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking shrinking always means disappearing completely. | CORRECTION: Shrinking means becoming smaller, but not necessarily vanishing. A shirt can shrink but still be there, just smaller.

MISTAKE: Confusing shrinking with stretching. | CORRECTION: Shrinking is about reducing size, while stretching is about making something longer or wider without necessarily changing its overall volume.

MISTAKE: Not considering all dimensions when thinking about shrinking an object. | CORRECTION: When an object shrinks, usually all its dimensions (length, width, height) become smaller proportionally, not just one.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Your school playground was 100 meters long. After some construction, it is now 85 meters long. By how many meters did the playground shrink? | ANSWER: 15 meters

QUESTION: A small plant grew from 5 cm to 15 cm. Then, due to lack of water, its height reduced by 3 cm. What is its final height? Did it shrink from its maximum height? | ANSWER: Final height = 12 cm. Yes, it shrunk by 3 cm from its maximum height of 15 cm.

QUESTION: A company's profit was 50,000 rupees last year. This year, their profit shrunk by 15%. What is their profit this year? | ANSWER: 42,500 rupees (15% of 50,000 is 7,500. 50,000 - 7,500 = 42,500)

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following is an example of shrinking?

A balloon getting bigger when you blow air into it

A wet cloth becoming smaller after drying in the sun

A rubber band getting longer when you pull it

A child growing taller over time

The Correct Answer Is:

When a wet cloth dries, the water evaporates, causing the cloth fibres to contract and the cloth to become smaller, which is shrinking. The other options describe growing or stretching.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

In India, you see shrinking everywhere. When you wash a new cotton kurta, it might shrink a little. Mobile phone companies are always trying to shrink the size of phone components to make devices thinner and lighter. Even the size of a cricket team's score can shrink if they lose wickets quickly!

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

REDUCE: To make less or smaller | DIMENSIONS: Measurements like length, width, and height | CONTRACT: To become smaller or shorter | QUANTITY: An amount or number of something | EVAPORATE: To turn from liquid into vapor

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand shrinking, you can explore concepts like 'Expanding' (the opposite of shrinking) or 'Percentages' to calculate how much something shrinks relative to its original size. Keep learning and observing the world around you!