Home >> Games & Cards >> Kids Games

How to Read a Visible Ruler

If you have a ruler with detailed markings on it, then you may be wondering how to read it. Some rulers have limited markings, leaving you to guess the measurements. Others have visible markings that make specific measurements easy to calculate if you are familiar with the different parts of the ruler. With a little practice, you will be calculating accurate measurements in minutes.

Things You'll Need

Ruler with visible markings

Instructions

- 1
  Lay your ruler on a flat workspace so that you can inspect it. Take note of how many numerals you see listed across the face of the ruler. If you see numerals 1 to12, then you have an English ruler. English rulers are measured in inches.
- 2
  Count the number of dashes you see in between each numeral. For example, count the dashes from numeral 1 to numeral 2. If you count seven dashes, then you have a 1/8-inch ruler, and if you count 14 dashes, then you have a 1/16-inch ruler. Knowing this bit of information will be helpful when you begin measuring.
- 3
  Lay a pencil beneath your ruler. You will want to make sure that the end of the pencil aligns with the left-hand side of the ruler.
- 4
  Take note of the closest numeral to the other end of your pencil. For example, let us say that your pencil reaches past the "4" mark but does not quite get to the "5" mark. You know that your pencil is at least 4 inches long. Now you will need to count the dashes to determine the incremental measurement.
- 5
  Count the number of dashes past the "4" mark. Let us say that you count 5 dashes on a 1/8-inch ruler. Add 1/8 five times, and you get 5/8. Therefore, your pencil is 4 inches and 5/8 long. Let us say that you count 5 dashes on a 1/16-inch ruler. Add 1/16 five times, and you get 5/16. Therefore, your pencil would be 4 inches and 5/16 long.

Kids Games