Introduction to Measurement Developing Standard and Metric Measuring Skills

It’s all about Measurement! Developing Measurement Concepts and Skills

What is Measurement? The count of how many units are needed to fill, cover, or match the attribute of an object (such as length, width, volume, weight, area) being measured. For example, to measure weight, which is a pull of gravity or a force, the weight of the object might first be applied to a spring. Then the comparison is made by finding out how many units of weight produce the same effect on the spring.

Units… just what are they? A unit is a constant amount that is used to give value to the attribute. Most people think of using rulers when they speak about measuring. Rulers, scales, protractors, or clocks are devices that make the filling or covering process easier. Units can be anything, as long as they are a consistent size and used in a consistent manner.

Units can be any of these, as long as you are consistent… Attribute: Width Units: straws, toothpicks, pencils How many units of width cover the height of the box? Attribute: Area Units: squares of paper, tiles, squares of wood Attribute: Volume Units: Cups of beans, candy, water, or rice Note: These Units shown here are informal. Formal units or common standard units, would be devices such as rulers, protractors, or weights.

To Measure Something… One must 1.Decide on the attribute to be measured –The length, the height, or the weight, etc. 2.Select a unit that has that attribute –inches, feet, pounds, etc. 3.Compare the units by filling, covering, matching, or some other method, with the attribute of the object being measured

Why Learn to Measure? Valuable skill for a job Valuable skill for hobbies Valuable skill for every day life

Measurement Systems Two types of measurement systems exist. –Standard (Customary) - Metric (SI or International System)

Standard (Customary) System InchesFractions ¼ ¾ The Whole Inch First Half Second Half 1 / 8 3 / 8 5 / 8 7 / 8 1 / 16 3 / 16 5 / 16 7 / 16 9 / / / / 16

1. Find out how many parts the inches are divided into. Count the spaces in 1 inch. This number will be the denominator. 2. Count the number of whole inches. Write down the number. 3. Count the number of spaces after the last whole inch. This number will be the numerator. 4. Reduce fraction, if necessary. Steps in Using the Standard (Customary) System

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Find Denominator Count Whole Inches Find Numerator Step 4Reduce Fraction, If Necessary Let’s Review

Let’s Practice What is the distance from the end of the ruler to A? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to E? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to D? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to C? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to B? ¼ in. 15/16 in. 1 ¾ in. 2 3/8 in. 3 1/16 in.

Metric System International System of Units (SI) Millimeters and Centimeters Decimals 1 mm = 0.1 cm 5 mm = 0.5 cm 10 mm = 1 cm

Steps in Using the Metric (SI) System 1.Count the number of whole centimeters (cm). These are the larger lines with numbers 2. Count the number of lines after the whole number. The smaller lines are millimeters (mm). 3. Put in correct terms. Since mm are 1/10th of a cm, if you measure 7 marks after 1 cm, the measure is 1.7 cm or 17 mm long.

Let’s Practice What is the distance from the end of the ruler to A? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to E? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to D? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to C? What is the distance from the end of the ruler to B? 4 mm = 0.4 cm 19 mm = 1.9 cm 37 mm = 3.7 cm 63 mm = 6.3 cm 73 mm = 7.3 cm

Converting from Standard to Metric Convert from: To:Multiply by: milekilometer (km) inchmillimeter (mm)25.4 inchcentimeter (cm)2.54 footmeter (m) yardmeter (m)0.9144

Converting from Metric to Standard Convert from:To:Multiply by: kilometer (km)mile millimeter (mm) inch centimeter (cm) inch meter (m)foot3.281 meter (m)yard1.094

Let’s Practice You used a meter stick to measure your window for new shades. However, the shade packages list the measurements in English units. Luckily your cell phone has a calculator so that you can quickly convert your 81.3 cm by 91.4 cm window opening to English units. What size is your window using English units? Round to the nearest inch x.3937 = 32 in x.3937 = 36 in. Therefore, the window opening is 32 in. by 36 in.

Image Resources Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved October 7, 2008, from