Read a ruler easily

Let’s start with the English type of a ruler. It contains 12 scales (large markings) that denote inches. 12 inches equals 1 foot (0,3 m). Each inch splits into 15 scales (small markings), that is equal to 16 scales for each inch on the ruler.

English ruler has 12 inch markings. They are numbered and denoted with the largest markings. If you want to find out the length of a nail, align its beginning or end with the left side of the ruler. If the beginning or end of the nail can be aligned with a big marking “5”, the length of the nail is 5 inches. Some rulers also have numbered markings “1/2 of an inch”, that’s why be careful and don’t mix the largest “inch” markings with the small ones.

„1/3 of an inch markings”. Such markings are twice as short as „inch” markings. They are put in the middle of each marking in 1 inch because they denote the half of an inch. It means that such markings are made between 0 and 1 inch, 1 and 2 inches, 2 and 3 inches and so on. There are 24 of them on the ruler.

“1/4 of an inch” markings. Such markings are put between „1/2 of an inch” markings, they are smaller in size and denote ¼ of an inch. In the first inch these markings denote ¼, 1/2/ 1/3 and 1 inch. Despite the fact that there are separate markings “1/2”of an inch and “1 inch”, they are also the part of ¼ of an inch measurement, because 2/4 of an inch equals half of an inch and 4/4 of an inch equals 1 inch. There are 48 of such markings on the ruler.

„1/8 of an inch” markings. These markings are put between „1/4 of an inch” markings. There are markings between 0 and 1 inches which denote 1/8, 1/4 (or 2/8), 3/8,1/2 (or 4/8), 5/8, 6/8 (or 3/4), 7/8 and 1 (or 8/8) of an inch. There are 96 of such markings on the ruler.

„1/16 of an inch” markings. These markings are put between “1/8 of an inch” markings. They are the smallest ones on this type of a ruler. There are some markings between 0 and 1 inches which denote 1/16, 2/16 (or 1/8), 3/16, 4/16 (or 1/4), 5/16, 6/16 (or 3/8), 7/16, 8/16 (or 1/2), 9/16, 10/16 (or 5/8), 11/16, 12/16 (3/4), 13/16, 14/16 (or 7/8), 15/16, 16/16 (or 1) of an inch. There are 192 of such markings on the ruler.

Get a metric ruler. This type of a ruler uses centimeters instead of inches. Normal ruler usually has 30 numbered markings which denote centimeters. Between 2 centimeter markings there are 10 smaller markings which denote millimeters.

„Centimeter” markings. The large numbers next to the longest lines on the ruler denote the centimeter marks. There are 30 of them on the ruler. For example, align the left end of the ruler with the top of a pencil rubber. If the tip of the pencil points to a large marking “14”, it means that the length of the pencil is 14 cm.

“1/2 of a centimeter” markings. Such markings are little bit shorter than the centimeter markings. They are put in the middle of each scale in 1 cm, because they denote 0.5 cm. There are 60 of such markings on the ruler.

„Millimeters” markings. There are four markings between „centimeter” markings and “0.5 markings” and they denote millimeters. Each centimeter has 10 markings, including “0.5” marking (equals 5 millimeters). It means that 1 cm equals 10 mm. There are 300 of such markings on the ruler.