How do you read a ruler?

Question

When I do it on eighths I get wrong results. Please explain in a simplified way. I have ADD.

Answer 1

This is assuming you're reading a ruler in inches and not centimeters.

It depends on how the ruler is set up. At the very least there will be marks for 1/4 (quarter), 1/2 (half) and 3/4 (three quarters) for every inch.

The 1/2 inch will be the longest mark that's not an inch mark, and will be halfway in between the inch marks. Halfway between the inch and 1/2 inch mark will be a smaller mark for 1/4 inch. If in between that mark and the inch mark is one more mark, then that's a 1/8 inch mark. If there are three marks, the longer one will be 1/8 inch, the other two are 1/16 inch marks.

Hope this helps. Also, are you sure you have ADD? A lot of people say they have ADD but they actually don't, and just use it as an excuse.

Answer 2

This is pretty hard to explain not being in-person with you.  However --

Let's start with fractions.  Each sub-measure of an inch is a fraction.  One inch is 1/1".  Half an inch is 1/2".  A quarter inch is 1/4", and an eighth is 1/8".  Note how the denominator (the number after the slash) keeps doubling, as the measurement is halved in length.  When you are doing math with measurements, keep it simple and keep the whole numbers and the fractions separate.

Let's add 2 5/8" to 6 3/4".  Now, how can we add those fractions?  Easy.  You simply multiply the 3/4" by 2/2, giving you 6/8".  So, now you have eighths for both denominators.  Adding up the whole numbers 2 and 6, you get eight.  Add the fractions, you get 11/8", which amounts to 1 3/8".  Total, 9 3/8".  I hope this helps, though I fear I made it seem even more complicated.

Answer 3

I'm not sure I can explain it any better than anyone else but I'll give it a go.

Most tape measures that I've used are setup in 1/16th inch increments. If you look at the tape measure you're using, look at the 1 inch mark and start count from the tick mark after it. If you count 16 of those and the 16th one is on the number 2, then each of those tick marks is a 1/16th of an inch. If you start at the first mark after the number 1 and count 2 of those, then the second tick mark is 1/8th of an inch...four of them would be a quarter of an inch (1/4).

Generally, the marks that represents eighth's and quarter's of an inch are longer and darker.

So, if you start at the 1 and count to the first mark after it, that would be 1 and 1/16 of an inch. If you count to the second mark, that would be 1 and 1/8...the fourth mark would be 1 and 1/4 of an inch.

With a little bit of experience, you will be able to read it like a pro!

Answer 4

It can be tough to learn.  There are tape measures where the eighths are called out (labeled) and prevent errors.  The tick between 1/8 and 1/4 you just have to calculate at 3/16, then.

Don't feel too bad, I had to rework a couple of picture framing projects because the person I was working with (50 year old artist) couldn't determine the right measure.