Reading and interpreting distance tables/matrices showing distances between locations (e.g., mileage charts between cities).
Where your child meets this in real life: Reading road atlas mileage charts, planning routes between NI towns
SEAGReady breaks read distance tables into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Read the distance between two locations from a distance table by finding where the row and column intersect
Calculate the total distance for a journey with multiple stops by reading and adding individual leg distances
Three free sample questions from our read distance tables course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Ciara is planning a road trip around Northern Ireland. She uses this distance table showing kilometres between cities. | - | Belfast | Derry | Newry | Omagh | |---|---------|-------|-------|-------| | Belfast | - | 117 | 62 | 109 | | Derry | 117 | - | 152 | 53 | | Newry | 62 | 152 | - | 137 | | Omagh | 109 | 53 | 137 | - | How far is it from Belfast to Newry?
Answer: A. 62 km
Step 1: Find Belfast in the row headers on the left Step 2: Find Newry in the column headers at the top Step 3: Trace along the Belfast row to where it meets the Newry column Step 4: The number in that cell is 62 It is 62 km from Belfast to Newry.
Stuck? Start here: Find Belfast in the row headers on the left side
Caitlin is driving from Belfast to Omagh, but she wants to stop in Newry to visit her grandmother. Use the distance table to find the total distance. | - | Belfast | Derry | Newry | Omagh | |---|---------|-------|-------|-------| | Belfast | - | 117 | 62 | 109 | | Derry | 117 | - | 152 | 53 | | Newry | 62 | 152 | - | 137 | | Omagh | 109 | 53 | 137 | - | What is the total distance from Belfast to Newry to Omagh?
Answer: A. 199 km
Step 1: Break the journey into legs - Leg 1: Belfast to Newry - Leg 2: Newry to Omagh Step 2: Look up each distance - Belfast to Newry = 62 km - Newry to Omagh = 137 km Step 3: Add the distances 62 + 137 = 199 km The total journey from Belfast to Newry to Omagh is 199 km.
Stuck? Start here: Break the journey into two legs: Belfast to Newry, then Newry to Omagh
Sean is looking at a distance table to plan his journey. | - | Belfast | Derry | Newry | Omagh | |---|---------|-------|-------|-------| | Belfast | - | 117 | 62 | 109 | | Derry | 117 | - | 152 | 53 | | Newry | 62 | 152 | - | 137 | | Omagh | 109 | 53 | 137 | - | How far is it from Derry to Omagh?
Answer: A. 53 km
Step 1: Find Derry in the row headers on the left Step 2: Find Omagh in the column headers at the top Step 3: Trace along the Derry row to where it meets the Omagh column Step 4: The number in that cell is 53 It is 53 km from Derry to Omagh.
Stuck? Start here: Find Derry in the row headers on the left side
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Oisin is planning a road trip. He looks at a distance table showing kilometres between cities in Northern Ireland.
How far is it from Belfast to Derry?
Read from table
Step 1 of 5
Oisin is planning a road trip. He looks at a distance table showing kilometres between cities in Northern Ireland.
How far is it from Belfast to Derry?
It is 117 km from Belfast to Derry.
The key insight: The distance is the same both ways: Belfast to Derry = Derry to Belfast!
Watch out: Reading 62 km (the Newry value in the wrong column). Make sure you trace along the correct row AND down the correct column. Use your finger to help align both.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in read distance tables, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.