:) I'm sure there are a lot more cool things you can do with a ruler, and I'd love to hear about them! In the meantime, the best way to get good at this is to practice practice practice! After doing this about 20 times, my students can just about do it in their sleep- and their ability to read a ruler shows in their metals projects. After 16ths, you would have 32nds, 64ths, 128ths, 256ths, 512ths, 1024ths, 2048ths, and on and on and on. Each mark on the ruler that ends up with multiple fractions can be reduced to the top most fraction in the set! Trick 3 Continuing on! You can continue the Cut and Double forever! Each time just split the last section in half and double the denominator of the last fraction. If you were to write ALL of the fractions down every time you did a set, your Inch would look like Picture 3. Notice that in each fraction, the numerator is ONE LESS than the denominator! Trick 2 You can use your completed inch as a calculator for reducing fractions. Look at the last fraction in each set as shown in Picture 2. If you have an even number as a numerator, it needs to be reduced or you haven't got it in the right spot! 2. What do you notice about ALL of the numerators?! THEY ARE ALL ODD. Do you see any patterns? There are two that stand out that can come in handy to check your work to make sure you drew your inch correctly. Now lets show you a couple of patterns and give you some tips and tricks! Trick 1 Take a minute and look at the fractions.
#READ METRIC SCALE RULER HOW TO#
The following examples show how to read a metric scale on a ruler or tape measure. Numbers are only written every 10 and 100 millimetres. Bob tells about a sneaky trick to make reducing fractions easier when using a typical tape measure or ruler. The smallest markings or divisions on the scale are 1 mm apart. Bob and Sparky go over how to read a measuring tape or a ruler using fractions. Find the edge marked 32 and once again look between the numbers “5” and “6”. Rulers and tape measures use the same metric scale. However, precision measurements require smaller graduations. Common tapes and rules usually are not graduated smaller than sixteenths. In scientific and engineering terminology, a device to measure linear distance and create proportional linear measurements is. There are now 16 equal divisions between each inch. A scale ruler is a tool for measuring lengths and transferring measurements at a fixed ratio of length two common examples are an architect's scale and engineer's scale. Now turn the ruler and look at the edge with a 16 marked on it. The lengths of these lines differ and indicate different fractions or parts of an inch.Įach half inch is divided in half by a slightly shorter line indicating 1/4 on the left and 3/4 on the right.Įach 1/4 inch is divided in half by the shortest line which indicates 1/8 inch. Look at the section between the “5” and the “6” on the edge marked with an “8” for eighths. When referring to fractions, always use the reduced name. This numeral indicates the number of divisions per inch. There is a small numeral marked on the end of the ruler (red numbers). The opposite side is similarly divided into 32 and 64 spaces per inch, and it is common practice to number every fourth division for easier reading. marks are commonly made longer than the smaller division marks to facilitate counting, but the graduations are usually not numbered individually, as they are sufficiently far apart to be counted without difficulty. The other edge of this side is divided in sixteenths.
On one edge each inch is divided into 8 equal spaces so each space represents 1/8 in.