Basic Mathematics

Reading a Ruler

Click Go On to begin.

Click to begin
Reading a Ruler
In lessons dealing with pictures, such as rulers, graphs, and shapes, the objects are not always drawn with the measurements that are indicated.
The rulers on the following screens, for example, are enlarged to show the detail of the markings.
Reading a Ruler
Check the ruler to find the units for the smallest marks. In the ruler below, there are 8 divisions per inch, so the marks are \(\frac{1}{8}\) inch apart.

The arrow above this ruler is at \(2\frac{6}{8}\)or \(2\frac{3}{4}\)inches.
Reading a Ruler
Some rulers measure in English units:
unit abbreviation equivalents
inch in.  or " 1 in. = \(\frac{1}{12}\) ft.
foot ft.  or ' 1 ft. = 12 in.
yard yd. 1 yd. = 36 in.
1 yd. = 3 ft.
Other measure in metric units:
unit symbol equivalents
millimeter mm 1 mm = 0.001 m
centimeter cm 1 cm = 0.01 m
1 cm = 10 mm
meter m 1 m = 100 cm
1 m = 1000 mm
Reading a Ruler
Here is a standard metric ruler. The small divisions are equal to 0.1 centimeter, or 1 millimeter, each.

The arrow above this ruler is at 1.4 centimeters.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the location of the arrow on the ruler above.
Question 1 of 8
The marks on the ruler are 0.1 cm apart. Try again.
The arrow is between 2.0 cm and 3.0 cm. Try again.
The arrow is 0.1 cm, or 1 mm, past the 2 cm mark.
The arrow is between 2.0 cm and 3.0 cm. Try again.
One of these shows the location of the arrow. Try again.
The marks on the ruler are 0.1 cm apart.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the location of the arrow on the ruler above.
Question 2 of 8
The arrow is between 2 in. and 3 in. Try again.
The arrow is \(\color{#0a7d0a}{\frac{2}{8}}\) inches, or \(\color{#0a7d0a}{\frac{1}{4}}\) inches, past the 2-inch mark.
The marks on this ruler show eighths of an inch, not tenths of an inch. Try again.
The arrow is two marks past 2 inches, not one. Try again.
One of these shows the location of the arrow. Try again.
The marks on the ruler are one-eight inch apart.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the location of the arrow on the ruler above.
Question 3 of 8
The arrow is 3 marks, not 2 marks, past 7 inches . Try again.
The arrow is \(\color{#0a7d0a}{\frac{3}{8}}\) inches past the 7-inch mark.
The marks on this ruler show eighths of an inch, not tenths of an inch. Try again.
The marks on this ruler show eighths of an inch, not tenths of an inch. Try again.
One of these shows the location of the arrow. Try again.
The marks on the ruler are one-eighth inch apart.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the location of the arrow on the ruler above.
Question 4 of 8
The arrow is 0.7 cm, or 7 mm, past the beginning of the ruler.
The arrow is between 0.0 cm and 1.0 cm. Try again.
The marks on the ruler are 0.1 cm apart. Try again.
The marks on the ruler are 0.1 cm, or 1 mm, apart. Try again.
One of these shows the location of the arrow. Try again.
The marks on the ruler are 0.1 cm apart.
Reading a Ruler
There are four questions remaining. For each of these questions, you will be asked to identify the length of a line segment.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the length of the line segment that is above the ruler.
Question 5 of 8
Each mark represents \(\color{#be0a0a}{\frac{1}{8}}\) of an inch. Try again.
Each mark represents \(\color{#be0a0a}{\frac{1}{8}}\) of an inch. Try again.
The line segment begins at 0 and stops at \(\color{#0a7d0a}{2\frac{5}{8}}\) inches. This is a length of \(\color{#0a7d0a}{2\frac{5}{8}}\) inches.
The line segment is between 2 and 3 inches long. Try again.
One of these shows the length of the line segment. Try again.
The line segment begins at 0 and ends 5 marks past 2 inches.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the length of the line segment that is above the ruler.
Question 6 of 8
The line segment is 17 mm, not 17 cm. Try again.
The line segment begins at 1 cm and stops at 2.7 cm. Try again.
The line segment begins at 1 cm, not at the beginning of the ruler. Try again.
The line segment begins at 1 cm and stops at 2.7 cm. This is a length of 1.7 cm.
One of these shows the length of the line segment. Try again.
The line segment begins at 1 cm and ends 7 marks past 2 cm.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the length of the line segment that is above the ruler.
Question 7 of 8
The line segment is between 1 and 2 inches long. Try again.
The line segment begins at 6 inches and stops at \(\color{#be0a0a}{7\frac{6}{8}}\) inches. Try again.
The line segment begins at 6 in. and stops at \(\color{#0a7d0a}{7\frac{6}{8}}\) in. This is a length of \(\color{#0a7d0a}{1\frac{6}{8}}\) or \(\color{#0a7d0a}{1\frac{3}{4}}\) inches.
The line segment begins at 6 inches, not at the beginning of the ruler. Try again.
One of these shows the length of the line segment. Try again.
The line segment begins at 6 inches and ends 6 marks past 7 inches.
Reading a Ruler
Click on the length of the line segment that is above the ruler.
Question 8 of 8
The line segment begins at 3 centimeters and stops at 3.8 centimeters. This is a length of 0.8 centimeters.
The line segment begins at 3 cm, not at the beginning of the ruler. Try again.
Each mark on the ruler is 0.1 cm. Try again.
The line segment begins at 3 cm and stops at 3.8 cm. Try again.
One of these shows the length of the line segment. Try again.
The line segment begins at 3 cm and ends 8 marks to the right.
Reading a Ruler