Reading Your Ruler

Reading rulers and knowing how to read rulers is very important to know how to do in life and you will use this skill many a time throughout your life. Think of all the things you will have to use it for. Without this skill, there are many jobs and professions you will definitely miss out on that you may want to have. In this article we will tell you the basics of any one-foot ruler out there, which is necessary for even elementary school level kids.

Every foot ruler has 12 inches on it, the 6-inch mark being the half of a foot point. In every inch there are at least 8 marks. The longest marks will be the ¼ of an inch marks. The shorter marks will be the 1/8 of an inch marks. And in a lot of rulers made today, there will be another set of even smaller marks. These marks will be the 1/16 of an inch marks. To measure than object, you simply have to put the end of the ruler (the part of the ruler that has the 1 inch mark). Then, look where the object ends on the ruler and look at the markings. First find the inch the object ends in. Let’s say that it ends in inch 6. Then find which smaller mark it hits. Let’s say it hits the first largest small mark. That would mean that this object measures to be 6 inches and ¼ long.

On many, many foot rulers, you will also find on the opposite side or end a centimeter scale. You’ve already been taught the inch scale; the centimeter scale is much easier, although they are smaller. There will usually be 30 and ½ centimeters on your ruler. And inside each of these centimeters are 4 equal smaller marks, each representing ¼ of the centimeter. It’s that simple. Then, just follow the procedures of measuring something with the inch scale, but use the centimeter side. Now if your object you want to measure is longer than your ruler, just start the ruler at the end of the object as always and put your finger where the top of the ruler now is. Then move the end of the ruler so that it is where your finger is. Keep doing this as many feet up as this object may be, then when repeat the normal procedures once you get to the end of the object.

Knowing these basic ruler reading skills will help put you in a position for many opportunities. Practice these skills until you have perfected them, and you will be on your way to a life of measurement knowledge in no time!