Introduction to Measurement

Developing Standard and Metric Measuring Skills

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

Inches Fractions

2

4

8

16

¼ ¾

The Whole InchFirst Half Second Half

1/8 3/8 5/8 7/8

1/16 3/16 5/16 7/16 9/16 11/16 13/16 15/16

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

16

71

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 SystemInternational System of Units (SI)

Millimeters andCentimeters 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 cm19 mm = 1.9 cm37 mm = 3.7 cm63 mm = 6.3 cm73 mm = 7.3 cm

Converting from Standard to Metric

Convert from: To: Multiply by:

mile kilometer (km) 1.609347

inch millimeter (mm) 25.4

inch centimeter (cm) 2.54

foot meter (m) 0.3048

yard meter (m) 0.9144

Converting from Metric to Standard

Convert from: To: Multiply by:

kilometer (km) mile 0.6214

millimeter (mm) inch 0.0394

centimeter (cm) inch 0.3937

meter (m) foot 3.281

meter (m) yard 1.094

Let’s PracticeYou 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.

81.3 x .3937 = 32 in.91.4 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 http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx