Quantify It! Introduction to Measurement Scales

Measurement Methods What are some ways to measure distance? What are some potential problems? Adapted from

Standards (SI) Meter Kilogram Second These units are called standards because they were approved by international treaty.

Measure or Estimate? We estimate quantities in situations requiring a quick, approximate answer. We measure quantities when an exact answer is necessary.

Estimating Distances However, we don't estimate distances by rounding! In order to estimate distances, we must understand length scales. Length scales are standardized in English and Metric units.

Miles, Kilometers

Meters

Yards

Feet

Inches, Centimeters, Millimeters Inches, Centimeters Millimeters File:Mechanical_pencil_lead_spilling_ out_ jpg

Reading a Ruler A metric ruler is divided into centimeters and millimeters. There are 10 mm in 1 cm. An English ruler marked in 8ths. Every mark is 1/8th of an inch. An English ruler marked in 16ths. Every mark is 1/16th of an inch.

Reading a Ruler The center mark between numbers is 1/2. The red lines on these rulers are marked at 1/2, and 1. The next smallest marks on a ruler are 1/4ths. The red marks on these rulers are at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1. (1/2 is the same as 2/4) The next smallest marks on a ruler are 1/8ths. The red marks on these rulers are at 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 1. The red marks on this ruler are at 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, and 1. When marking down a distance from a ruler, mark the whole inch, followed by a space, then the fraction of an inch.

In your notebook, estimate: Length of whiteboard (in meters) Height of your desk chair (in feet) Length of the calculator (in inches) Width of whiteboard ledge (in mm)

Check the answers! Length of whiteboard (in meters): Height of your desk chair (in feet): Length of the calculator (in inches): Width of whiteboard ledge (in mm):

Units and Abbreviations 1 inch = 1 in = 1”1 foot = 1 ft = 1’1 yard = 1 yd1 mile = 1 mi 1 millimeter = 1 mm1 centimeter = 1 cm1 meter = 1 m1 kilometer = 1 km 1 ft = 12 in1 yd = 3 ft1 mi = 5280 ft 1 cm = 10 mm1 m = 100 cm1 km= 1000 m