Let’s Learn How to Read a Tape Measure
A measuring tape is a instrument used to take the dimensions of an object or area. Tape measures come in diverse sizes and lengths ranging from smaller sizes of three feet or below to over one hundred feet in length. Despite the length of the tape measure being used you will often find them in two kinds which are METRIC or IMPERIAL. The selection is yours to make for either one however, probably the decision will be influenced by what you are measuring or by the country you reside in.
Required Tool
Tape Measure
Required Material
Area or surface to be measured
Instructions
Usage just requires you to pull out the tape and measure what you desire and then release for it to auto-retract or roll it back up by hand depending on which variety you are using. If it is an imperial or metric tape measure there is no difficulty reading the primary numbers, but there may be some problems reading the notches used for measurements between the numbered measurements. To distinguish between the two, imperial is measured in inches and feet while metric is measured in millimeters and centimeters.
Imperial tape measures are in order from one inch to the utmost length of the tape with notches between every number representing one-sixteenth of an inch. An easy technique to read the notches is to think of the measurements out of sixteen at all times and then divide the number by two. Therefore counting the notches at the start of the tape measure we have zero, then one-sixteenth of an inch, then two-sixteenth and so on until you reach sixteen-sixteenth, where you would either incessantly divide by two until you have one remaining. Or divide the top sixteen by the lower because they are multiples of two.
Therefore reading all the notches from zero to one inch you would have 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, and 1. Every 12 inches you ascned on an imperial tape measure you will probably see the number of feet as well as the quantity of inches that you have measured. Because this has been generally regulated but might not be there in all brands of tape measures.
The metric tape measure is a little easier to read than the imperial tape measure since the metric system is made to have all numbers divisible by 10. A comparison would be that the imperial uses inches and sections of an inch and feet; segments of an inch are divided into sixteen, and then twelve inches total one foot.
With metric 10 millimeters equal one centimeter, and then 100 centimeters equal a meter; all numbers are divisible by 10 and the notches on a metric tape measure between 0 and 10 instead of 16. This means you can easily check for the measurement between zero and one centimeter by counting 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 etc until 0.9 and ultimately 1.0 centimeters. Any number above would go on 1.1, 1.2 etc until 2.0 centimeters, and the movement would continue along the total length of the tape measure.
Tip
The imperial and metric regulations are totally dissimilar, and while in some instances you may be able to convert between the two it is greatly inadvisable. Persons in the auto-mechanics field may say to you that you may be able to locate an imperial measurement that matches a metric measurement and vice-versa. However, they will also inform you that the tools used may not fit fully due to mixing the two standards. For best results you should stick to one standard and if you are following a guide in a book or online use the outlined measurements and standard.
Here you can find more information on how to read a tape measure.