Reading a Straight Edge Created By: Dr. A. Dávila

Look at your straight edge closely to identify which system to use. For the customary system, it might read in for inches or ft for feet. For the metric system, it might read cm for centimeter or mm for millimeter.

Most straight edge rulers have an excess edge.

If it does have an excess edge, start measuring from the first mark.

Each number identifies a whole. 1 centimeter

Notice the longer line segment and its corresponding number. whole centimeter

Notice the longer line segment and its corresponding number. This identifies the first whole centimeter. whole centimeter

Count the number of spaces between each line segment. Each space represents a millimeter. How many millimeters make a whole centimeter? fractions of a centimeter

Notice the first small line segment. This small line segment represents the first millimeter (on the meter side of a straight edge). 1 millimeters or 0.1 (1/10) of a cm

Notice the first small line segment. This small line segment represents the first millimeter (on the meter side of a straight edge). 2 millimeters or 0.2 (2/10 or 1/5) of a cm

Notice the first small line segment. This small line segment represents the first millimeter (on the meter side of a straight edge). 3 millimeters or 0.3 (3/10) of a cm

Notice the first small line segment. This small line segment represents the first millimeter (on the meter side of a straight edge). 4 millimeters or 0.4 (4/10 or 2/5) of a cm

Notice the first small line segment. This small line segment represents the first millimeter (on the meter side of a straight edge). 5 millimeters or 0.5 (5/10 or 1/2) of a cm

It takes 10 millimeters to make a whole centimeter. one centimeter one millimeter

How many centimeters make a whole decimeter? one decimeter

It takes 10 centimeters to make a whole decimeter. How many decimeters make a meter? one decimeter is equal to 10 cm

It takes 10 centimeters to make a whole decimeter. How many decimeters make a meter? 1/10 (0.1) of a decimeter

It takes 10 centimeters to make a whole decimeter. How many decimeters make a meter? 2/10 or 1/5 (0.2) of a decimeter

It takes 10 centimeters to make a whole decimeter. How many decimeters make a meter? 3/10 (0.3) of a decimeter

It takes 10 centimeters to make a whole decimeter. How many decimeters make a meter? 4/10 or 2/5 (0.4) of a decimeter

It takes 10 centimeters to make a whole decimeter. How many decimeters make a meter? 5/10 or 1/2 (0.5) of a decimeter

Count the number of spaces between each line segment. Each space represents a fraction of an inch. How many sections make a whole inch? fractions of an inch

There are a total of 16 sections to a whole inch. fractions of an inch

Notice the first small line segment. This small line segment represents the first fractional part of an inch. 1/16 which means 1 out of 16 sections or of an inch

2/16 or of an inch Two fractional parts of an inch (2 out of 16 sections).

2/16 or 1/8 means (1 out of 8) or of an inch However, the every two sections can be combined for total of eight sections.

3/16 or of an inch Three fractional parts of an inch (3 out of 16 sections).

4/16 or 0.25 of an inch Four fractional parts of an inch (4 out of 16 sections).

However, two sections can be grouped for a total of eight sections. 4/16 or 2/8 means (2 out of 8) 0.25 of an inch

However, four sections can be grouped for a total of four sections. 4/16 or 1/4 means (1 out of 4) 0.25 of an inch

5/16 or of an inch Five fractional parts of an inch (5 out of 16 sections).

6/16 or of an inch Six fractional parts of an inch (6 out of 16 sections).

6/16 or 3/ of an inch However, every two sections were paired for a total of 8 sections.

7/16 or of an inch Seven fractional parts of an inch (7 out of 16 sections).

8/16 or 0.5 of an inch Eight fractional parts of an inch (8 out of 16 sections).

8/16 or 4/8 0.5 of an inch However, every two sections can be combined for a total of 8 sections.

8/16 or 2/4 means 2 out of 4 or 0.5 of an inch However, every four sections can be combined for a total of four sections.

8/16 or 1/2 means 1 out of 2 or 0.5 of an inch However, every eight sections can be combined for a total of 2 sections.

9/16 or of an inch Nine fractional parts of an inch (9 out of 16 sections).

10/16 or of an inch Ten fractional parts of an inch (10 out of 16 sections).

10/16 or 5/ of an inch However, every two sections can be combined for a total of 8 sections.

11/16 or of an inch Eleven fractional parts of an inch (11 out of 16 sections).

12/16 or 0.75 of an inch Twelve fractional parts of an inch (12 out of 16 sections).

12/16 or 6/ of an inch However, every two sections can be combined for a total of 8 sections.

12/16 or 3/4 means 3 out of 4 or 0.75 of an inch However, every four sections can be combined for a total of four sections.

13/16 or of an inch Thirteen fractional parts of an inch (13 out of 16 sections).

14/16 or of an inch Fourteen fractional parts of an inch (14 out of 16 sections).

14/16 or 7/ of an inch However, every two sections can be combined for a total of 8 sections.

15/16 or of an inch Fifteen fractional parts of an inch (15 out of 16 sections).

16/16 or 1 whole inch Sixteen fractional parts of an inch (16 out of 16 sections).

16/16 or 8/8 means 8 out of 8 1 whole inch However, every two sections can be combined for a total of 8 sections.

16/16 or 4/4 means 4 out of 4 or 1 whole inch However, every four sections can be combined for a total of four sections.

16/16 or 2/2 means 2 out of 2 or 1 whole inch However, every eight sections can be combined for a total of 2 sections.

16/16 or 1/1 means 1 out of 1 or 1 whole inch All the sections form one whole inch