how to read a ruler in inches

There are two types of rulers: the inch ruler, which has 12 big numbers on it (1 for each inch), and the metric ruler, which has 30 big numbers on it (1 for each centimeter). Each worksheet has five rulers on it corresponding to five measurement problems to be completed. All this verticl lines called as fraction of inches or Graduation of inches. The truth is that there are tons of moments in life when you’ll need to know how to read a ruler. For example, you measure a piece of fabric and the edge falls on the 6th line after the 4 inch mark, which is directly in between the 1/4 of an inch mark and the 1/2 inch mark. I have learned more from this relative to what I was taught in class! You find that your ruler comes to the second line after the 6-inch mark. The numbers to the right of the decimal represent tenths, hundredths and thousandths, respectively. Some lower quality rulers have spaces at the beginning to make the rulers easier to use. Inches… The longest lines on a ruler or tape measure represent the inch markings — for example, 1 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches… [1] The 55.5 is larger than 55 1/4. Learn how to convert nanometers to meters and other measurements with our in-depth guide. Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. If you are using an inches ruler the is divide d into the 12 equal parts. It’s pretty obvious that knowing how to read a ruler is important to not just your grades in school but also your day-to-day life. How to Read a Ruler in Inches and Centimeters, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score. The smallest unit a metric ruler can measure is 1 mm, or 0.1 cm. Example: Say you decide to measure the length of a corn on the cob. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? …issues. For tips on how to count the smaller lines and figure out how many millimeters you're working with, read on! The bigger lines with the numbers make up the centimeters. Ask below and we'll reply! Example: Say you're measuring the width of your smartphone, and it comes up to the fifth line after 4 cm on your ruler. Example of a standard ruler Therefore, the first line past the big number (for instance 25) will represent 25.1cm or 251mm. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. No one ever broke it down and worked backwards to explain it - that's why I couldn't get it. If you plan on measuring things that are small or you need to be extremely accurate, make sure the ruler you use has these marks. This article is so useful for me. Each centimeter is labeled on the ruler (1-30). Your ruler reaches the seventh line past 12 cm. On a metric ruler, each small mark (line) represents a mm. For example, place the ruler against a pencil with the eraser at the far left of the ruler. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. About This Quiz & Worksheet. (8 divided … Step 4: Cut & Double- Eighths. In the drawing below, we show a ruler with graduations or marks of 0.1" (1/10") and 0.01" (1/100"). There are smaller lines between the larger centimeter lines, which represent millimeters. Such an online ruler can also be called as a digital ruler or virtual ruler. ", want to ask my husband for help, I wanted to figure it out on my own. There are five different lengths of lines in total. Example: If you were to measure the length of a sheet of computer paper, the piece of paper would come up to the 11-inch mark on your ruler, indicating that it's exactly 11 inches long. Wow! Very easy to understand and learn how to use each measurement. ", "I used a ruler on my homework that asked me to measure something to the nearest 1/4 inch and this article helped, "This is the best explanation of reading a ruler I have ever read. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. I know more now about a ruler or tape measure than I ever have before. This way the line thickness will not affect the measurement. It is important to be as accurate as possible when reading your gauge. All rights reserved. Next is 1/8 inch, which is the second-smallest unit of a ruler. Thanks. I'm very happy to have learned so much, especially, "This has helped me a lot. Each part consist of the 16 lines which are also parted equally. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. A standard ruler is 30 cm/12 inches long. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. For example, 1+1/2, or 2+3/8. The ruler comes to the seventh line past 3 inches. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. This helps me out a great deal. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Step 2: Cut & Double- Halves. Example: You take out a ruler to measure the width of your fingernail. Is 12 inches longer than a foot? For instance, what if you make two pieces of something that don’t fit together because one is shorter or longer than it was supposed to be? Mark where the tip of the pencil lead ends on the ruler. ", parts of a measuring tape. An inch can be divided into 8, 16, or even 32 parts. Now when I go to lay down the measurements on my work, I don't have to ask my teacher about it. Meanwhile, centimeters are part of the metric system, which is used around the world in both everyday life and science. 1/4" = 1' (1/4 inch = 1 foot). If you are measuring something, align it with the left side of the zero mark on the ruler. This would mean that the cloth is 10 1/4 (10.25) inches long. For example, 1 1/2, or 2 3/8. In other words, it ends in the middle of the second half of a centimeter. The 1/2-inch line is located midway between every inch on a ruler. Step 3: Cut & Double- Quarters. While doing this you need to understand the ruler, as everything needs, "It helped me understand something that had baffled me my entire life, I am self taught mostly. Or what if you mess up a science experiment because you didn’t accurately read the measurement of a piece of string you cut? A Comprehensive Guide. Measurement Worksheets Reading a Ruler Marked in Inches The measuring worksheets on this page require grade school students to look at a ruler and identify the value being shown in inches. Knowing how to read a ruler is important, not just for school but also for daily life. ", "This is great! How to Read an Imperial Ruler. What measurement, in inches, is it showing? Thank you. For example, if you wanted to make something out of construction paper, you'd likely need to use a ruler to measure out how much of the material you would need. Gather supplies. the .5 on the 55.5 would equal 1/2. This will also help with understanding fractions as well. The vertical lines vary in length, depending on the interval. This means that your fabric is 4 and 3/8 inches long. We’ll also provide you with some helpful resources you can use to keep honing your ruler-reading skills. These tiny lines that represent 1/16 inch come between all 1/8-inch lines: Example: You’re trying to measure the length of your pointer finger. Each inch … Get an inch ruler. "I was a little confused in the beginning but then I got my answer, so that was cool, thank you. Each inch is divided into 16 lines, meaning that the space between each line is 1/16 inch long—this is the smallest length you can measure with a ruler. References The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. For tips on how to count the smaller lines and figure out how many millimeters you're working with, read on! This has broken it down for me. Rulers are an essential tool to have, but if you’re struggling with how to read a ruler, you're not alone. Inches correspond to the imperial system, which is the main measuring system used in the US and a smattering of other countries. A ruler that is 36 inches long is called a yard stick. I finally got it from your tutorial after all of these years. Got questions about decimals and fractions? The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. These typically aren't labeled but might be on some rulers (in which case you'd see numbers such as 1 1/2 in, 2 1/2 in, etc.). Thank you! ", "Had senior moment! The rain gauge is composed of three parts: a funnel, a measuring tube, and a 4-inch diameter overflow tube, and a mounting bracket. Each inch is broken down into 15 smaller marks, equaling 16 marks in total for each inch on the ruler. Like the inches ruler, you’ll see tons of lines on a metric ruler, with some longer and some shorter. 12 inches equals 1 foot (0.305 m). Every mark is 1/4th of an inch. Higher quality rulers are often made of non-elastic materials like steel or aluminum, and their markings start without any space. Is 5.5 mm closer to a half inch or a quarter inch? The second-biggest unit on a ruler is the 1/2 inch, which is represented by the second-longest line. ", "Very clear and precise article to learn to understand both inch and metric rulers. For example, to measure 0.6 cm, count one thick line (5 mm) and one thin line (1 mm). Needed a fast refresher class. The distance between those lines is 1 inch, and then the smaller lines between them are 1/2, 1/4, 1/6 and 1/8 inches! If you are measuring an object, align it with the left side of the zero mark on the ruler. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,215,882 times. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Why there is a space at the beginning of a ruler? Some rulers will also denote 1/2 inches with numbers, so make sure you are using the largest numbers with the longest lines as your inch markers. Every mark is 1/8th of an inch. This would mean that the corn is 6 1/8 inches long. ", the tic marks. In this case, refer to the instructions above to learn how to read a ruler in inches. A ruler marked in 8ths. 6 mm is almost a quarter inch, whereas half an inch looks closer to 12-13 mm, so 5.5 would be close to a quarter of an inch. 16ths Scale: Each inch is divided into 16 parts and the smallest division is 1/16 of an inch. The 1/8 lines are found midway between each 1/4-inch line: If you counted in 1/8-inch increments, you'd find that the second line after 0 equals 1/8 inch, the fourth line 2/8 (1/4) inch, the sixth line 3/8 inch, the eighth line 4/8 (2/4 or 1/2) inch, the 10th line 5/8 inch, the 12th line 6/8 (3/4) inch, and the 14th line 7/8 inch. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. All fractions must have a denominator of 8, 4 or 2. Each centimeter is labeled with a number to show the measurement it's referring to. The inch is the biggest unit on a ruler and is represented by the longest line. Now, notice the lines between each inch, with some longer and some shorter than others. Reading from left to right, your decimal ruler, like the standard ruler, has the numbers 1 through 12, which represent the inch marks. Ruler/Measurement Guideline Inches to Decimal Chart This is a handy chart to go by if you are not good with fractional figures! These measuring worksheets provide practice work that will prepare first grade and second grade students for real-world ruler activities. In total, there are three different lengths of lines on a metric ruler. Decimal Rulers utilizing inches normally have marks or graduations of 0.1" (1/10") and 0.01" (1/100)", some rulers may also have 0.020" (1/50") graduations. This article has been viewed 2,215,882 times. This would mean that the phone is 4.5 cm (45 mm) wide. Now that we’ve looked at how to read a ruler in inches, let’s go over how to read a ruler in cm. For example, 1/2 a centimeter is written as 0.5 cm. ", find this article helpful, I had to save it so I can return to it, as I will be studying it each day. And the last one 1/32 inches ruler divided by 32 verticle lines. Check out our detailed guide and you'll be on your way to understanding this ancient numerical system! The 12 marks are divisions of 1 foot into 12 inches. Practice problems include determining the measurement marked in a given example. These measuring worksheets provide practice work that will prepare first grade and second grade students for real world ruler activities. A measurement to select will appear above the ruler image. Digital calipers are simple to read. The above ruler to scale is effectively a life size ruler and can both be used as an online 12 inch ruler (online ruler inches: shows how to read a ruler in inches) or when printed as a printable centimetre ruler. ", "For years, I couldn't quite get measurements on the ruler. You’re measuring a pair of glasses, from the end of one lens to the far end of the other lens. A machinist ruler is an important piece of equipment for mechanics and others who need exacting measurements. How long is the pair of glasses. What is 55.5? These tools will check your knowledge of measuring an object in inches using a ruler. It reads cm, and has more numbers. The standard metric ruler is 30 cm long. If a ruler has 12 major divisions then it is an imperial or English ruler. ", "Everything helped! ", where all the centimeters and millimeters on the ruler are located. 3 standard rulers measure 1 yard or 36 inches. The standard English ruler, or Imperial ruler, is divided into inches. The longer the line on the surface of the ruler, the bigger the measurement is. If you want any extra assistance with learning how to read a ruler in cm or inches, videos and worksheets can be excellent resources. Yes, but it really depends on what type of ruler you want to learn as well as how fast you pick up new material. Last Updated: November 30, 2020 A half-inch mark is always centered between any two one-inch marks. This would mean the strand is 16.9 cm long (that’s 16 cm + 9 mm). You'll know it's an inch ruler because it will have 12 lines that denote inches on the ruler. (Note that some rulers only go down to 1/8 inch lines, whereas others go down to 1/32 inch lines.). Make sure you read the ruler from left to right. In the following lesson, you will learn how to read both an imperial and metric ruler. ", http://www.craft-a-project.com/Ruler-Measurements.html, http://www.askmrcscience.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/readingametricruler.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. ", centimeter to inch converter, it has really helped. Each foot is broken down into inches. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Most measurements in science classare done using a smaller scale then a meter which is either centimeter (cm) or millimeter (mm). Between the numbers are several vertical lines marking fractions of each inch. For example, if you measure a piece of paper and it ends on the 7th mark between the 24 and 25 centimeter mark, it means your object is 247mm, or 24.7cm, long. The marks are even numbers. Inch reading a ruler worksheet answers. Ranging from 1 inch to 1/16 of an inch, the lines decrease in size as the unit of measurement does. Or what if you wanted to frame a photo you have? Now then, here's what a typical metric ruler looks like: You can tell that this is a metric ruler because it’s divided into 30 equally spaced sections and has "cm" written on it (ignore the inches below). Each small line represents 1mm. Knowing how to read a ruler in cm is also helpful for people who'd prefer to not work with fractions (which you must do with inches) and who'd like to work with other units instead (in this case, millimeters). This article has 64 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. To create this article, 49 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. The middle-length line on a metric ruler is the 1/2 (0.5) centimeter line, which comes midway between every centimeter (in other words, it's the fifth line after every whole centimeter): So if you counted five lines from 9 cm, for instance, you’d get 9.5 cm (or 95 mm). The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Standard rulers are 12 inches and are usually marked with a number at each of the inch intervals. The midpoint between 7 and 8 inches, for instance, would be 7 1/2 (or 7.5) inches. When entering fractions into the conversion calculators, you have to separate the whole number and the fraction with a + sign. I didn't even know that metric means reading from left to right. Step 4 Align the edge of the ruler (using the side with the "1/4" marking at … Each inch is broken down into 15 smaller marks, equaling 16 marks in total for each inch on the ruler. Reading a ruler is a crucial skill and a great way to apply math skills to real world objects. Example: If you were to measure the width (instead of length) of a piece of computer paper, the piece should come up exactly to the 1/2 inch line between 8 and 9 inches, indicating that the width is 8 1/2 (8.5) inches. Though the machinist ruler may appear to be very much like other rulers, the number of increments between inches or centimeters allow it to be read with a much higher degree of accuracy than standard rulers which don't feature as many increments. We all know where the 1, 2, 3 etc. Reading a ruler is a valuable skill that you will likely use on your job, in your hobbies, and in your personal every day life. What does it mean when mm is shown just beside the 0 in a ruler? There will be one half-inch mark between each one-inch mark, but there are two half-inches per inch. The flower stem is 5 and 11/16 inches long. Look at the image above. Without measuring devices like rulers (and people who can read them) we would still be living in caves. The lines represent 1/8 of an inch or .125 of an inch. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. In this guide, we’ll explain why you should know how to read a ruler and give you step-by-step instructions on how to read a ruler in inches and cm. First, we discuss 1/2 inches, 1/2 inches are mid on the whole inches and it's the longest line after that inches. Locate the corresponding scale on the architectural ruler, i.e. The left side of the line where the object ends will be its measurement in inches. If you’re American, this is the measurement you probably know better than centimeters, which are sometimes included on your standard 12-inch, or 1-foot, ruler (we’ll go over how to read a ruler in cm in the next section). Get an inch ruler. Remember that there are 12 large numbers on an English ruler and 30 numbers on the metric ruler. When marking down a distance from a ruler, mark the whole inch, followed by a space, then the fraction of an inch. If the pencil point ends at the shorter line halfway between the 4 and 5 inches marks, then your pencil is 4 and 1/2 inches long. To check your answer, click on the ruler (or lift your finger on a touchscreen device). If it is in the metric system, use the centimeters side of the ruler; if it is in the English system, use the inches side of the ruler. ", system. Therefore, 55.5 is equal to 55 1/2 which is 1/4" larger than 55 1/4. Step 1: Start Your Inches! Thanks a bunch! See Picture 1. Example: You count eight marks, equalling 8/16 of an inch or 1/2 inch. Reading a ruler that measures in inches.Reading a ruler can be a little tricky. In this article we will learn how to read an inch that has been divided into 16 parts. Example: Say you’re measuring a piece of cloth and the ruler ends at the fourth line after the 10-inch mark. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Read-a-Ruler-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-a-Ruler-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Read-a-Ruler-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/aid2762382-v4-728px-Read-a-Ruler-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"410","licensing":"