To measure objects, use a measuring tape, yardstick, ruler, or other instrument that shows inches. Inches are broken down into the following fractions: ½, ¼, ⅛, and 1/16.
Line up the "0" line with the object’s end to begin measuring. Align the measuring tool’s "0" starting point with the nearest edge of the object or distance you wish to measure.
To measure a length, hold your measuring device parallel to the desired length. Verify that you are not holding your tool at an angle as this could lead to an inaccurate measurement.
Locate the final complete inch that is included in your measurement. For instance, if your measurement’s final line falls between the fourth and fifth lines, the final whole inch is four. This is the length that you are measuring in whole inches.
After the final numbered line, count the remaining unnumbered lines. If, for instance, the fourth line in your measurement was the last one to be numbered, then count the remaining unnumbered lines until the end of your measurement. Ensure that your count includes the last line.
Create a fraction out of the unnumbered lines you counted. Always keep in mind that a fraction has a top and a bottom number. The fraction’s top number represents the number of unnumbered lines you counted, and its bottom number represents the total number of unnumbered spaces between each inch plus one.
To obtain your final measurement, add the fraction to one whole inch. For instance, if your fraction is 3/16 and the last whole inch on your measurement was 4, your final measurement would be 4 3/16 inches.
Multiply the number of feet by 12 to convert feet to inches. Divide the total inch count by 12 to convert inches to feet.
Multiply the millimeters by 0.03937 to convert them to inches. Divide the inch count by 0.03937 to convert inches to millimeters.
Multiply centimeters by 0.3937 to convert them to inches. Divide the inch count by 0.3937 to convert inches to centimeters.
However, what exactly is one inch on a ruler?
The space between each line is 1/16 inch long—the smallest length you can measure with a ruler—because each inch is divided into 16 lines.
The longest line on a ruler represents the inch, which is the largest unit.
The 1/2 INCH, denoted by the second-longest line on a ruler, is the second-biggest unit.
On a ruler, the 1/2-INCH LINE IS POSTED MIDWAY BETWEEN EVERY INCH.
The 1/4 inch lines on a roller are the third-biggest lines; they are located halfway between the 1/2 and whole inch lines:
Lastly, 1/16 inch is the smallest unit on a roller.
We’ll discover what examples there are for one inch next.
12" is equal to one foot (12" = 1 ft)
36" = 1 yard, or 36 inches = 1 yard
63,360" = 1 mile (63,360 inches = 1 mile)
Multiply a given length by 2.54 to convert it from inches to centimeters.
An average paper clip is one inch long. The US quarter’s diameter is roughly equivalent to one inch (0.955 in).