How do you read a ruler or tape measure in sixteenths?

Find the numbered line before the mark, count the ticks after it, and multiply by what one tick is worth. On a ruler marked in sixteenths each tick is 1/16 in, so the 7th tick after the 2 in line is 2 + 7/16 = 2 7/16 in. Tick length tells you the kind of mark: the longest are whole inches, then halves, quarters, eighths and the shortest sixteenths, which is how you can see that 2 7/16 sits one tick short of the 2 1/2 mark. This tool writes that working out after every question.

How do I type a fraction or metric answer?

For inches, type 3 5/8, 3-5/8, 29/8 or 3.625, with or without in, inch, inches or a double quote mark; a decimal comma such as 3,625 works too. Any equal value counts, so 3 10/16 is marked right for 3 5/8, and the working shows it in lowest terms. For metric, type 23 mm or 2.3 cm, or 2,3 cm. A number with no unit is read as millimetres; if 2.3 on its own is only right as centimetres, you are asked to add the unit instead of being marked wrong.

What do easy, medium and hard change?

Easy starts the ruler at 0 and keeps every wrong choice at least two ticks from the marker. Medium shows a section from anywhere along the 12 in or 30 cm ruler, with both neighbouring ticks among the four choices. Hard puts the marker on the smallest tick every time, and the wrong choices include a neighbouring tick and the common misreads: counting back from the next numbered line, reading 7/16 as 7/8, counting from the half-centimetre mark, or starting from the wrong numbered line.

Does revealing the answer count against my score?

It counts as assisted. The question is marked revealed, and a reading you pick or type afterwards is kept but never scored as right. The unassisted score is right answers out of right plus wrong, so a reveal is left out of it rather than counted as wrong, and the summary lists reveals on their own line.

Is the ruler on screen actual size?

No. The drawing is stretched to fit your screen, so an inch here is not an inch on your desk, and this is practice at reading a scale. The line under the ruler says how many pixels apart its smallest ticks are at the current width, and 2x zoom spreads them further. To measure something at true size on screen, use the online ruler, which you calibrate against a card.

Can a whole class practise the same questions?

Yes. Every set has a set number. Type it in the Set number box and choose the same ruler, ticks, level and number of questions, and the same rulers, markers and choices come up in the same order on any device. Answering by choices or by typing does not change the questions.

Is my progress saved?

Your settings, the set in progress and up to ten of your latest finished or ended sets with at least one answer are kept in this browser's local storage, so a reload brings you back to the same question. Your answers are not sent anywhere. The Start over button above the tool clears them.

Ruler Reading Practice

Ruler Reading Practice deals a seeded set of 5, 10 or 20 questions, each an original section of a 12 in or 30 cm ruler with marker A on one tick. Pick one of four readings or type your own, as 3 5/8, 3-5/8, 29/8 or 3.625, or as 23 mm or 2.3 cm, and once the question locks you see the working: which tick after which numbered line, what one tick is worth, the sum in lowest terms and, where one is close, the longer mark it must not be rounded to. Ticks go from 1/2 in down to 1/16 in, or 5 mm and 1 mm, at easy, medium or hard. Revealing an answer counts that question as assisted, so the unassisted score only counts readings you made yourself. The same set number and settings repeat the same set, and your place is saved in this browser if you reload.

rulerinches, 1/16 in ticks, preview

1/16 in ticks.

medium, 10 questions

The ruler in words

Inch ruler preview from 0 to 2 in, with a tick every 1/16 in. Marker A appears when the set starts.

practiceloading

Checking this device for a saved set.

Question: none yet
Answer: none yet
Unassisted: none yet
Revealed: 0
Actions

Marker on the 7th sixteenth after 2 ininch ruler, 1/16 in ticks
2 7/16 in, not rounded to 2 1/2
Marker 23 mm from zerometric ruler, 1 mm ticks
23 mm, and 2.3 cm is accepted as the same reading
Answer revealed, then chosenany question
marked assisted and left out of the unassisted score

Set number

The same set number and settings always give the same rulers, markers and choices in the same order, so a class can work the same set. Leave it empty for a new set each time.

Set number

Accuracy. Every question is an original ruler drawn here with its marker exactly on a tick, so each answer is exact to the smallest division shown, down to 1/16 in or 1 mm, in lowest terms and never rounded to a coarser tick. The drawing is scaled to fit your screen rather than true to size, so this is practice at reading a scale, not a physical measurement, and a score here is not a trade test or certification result. Revealed answers count as assisted and stay out of your unassisted score.

Common questions

How do you read a ruler or tape measure in sixteenths?: Find the numbered line before the mark, count the ticks after it, and multiply by what one tick is worth. On a ruler marked in sixteenths each tick is 1/16 in, so the 7th tick after the 2 in line is 2 + 7/16 = 2 7/16 in. Tick length tells you the kind of mark: the longest are whole inches, then halves, quarters, eighths and the shortest sixteenths, which is how you can see that 2 7/16 sits one tick short of the 2 1/2 mark. This tool writes that working out after every question.
How do I type a fraction or metric answer?: For inches, type 3 5/8, 3-5/8, 29/8 or 3.625, with or without in, inch, inches or a double quote mark; a decimal comma such as 3,625 works too. Any equal value counts, so 3 10/16 is marked right for 3 5/8, and the working shows it in lowest terms. For metric, type 23 mm or 2.3 cm, or 2,3 cm. A number with no unit is read as millimetres; if 2.3 on its own is only right as centimetres, you are asked to add the unit instead of being marked wrong.
What do easy, medium and hard change?: Easy starts the ruler at 0 and keeps every wrong choice at least two ticks from the marker. Medium shows a section from anywhere along the 12 in or 30 cm ruler, with both neighbouring ticks among the four choices. Hard puts the marker on the smallest tick every time, and the wrong choices include a neighbouring tick and the common misreads: counting back from the next numbered line, reading 7/16 as 7/8, counting from the half-centimetre mark, or starting from the wrong numbered line.
Does revealing the answer count against my score?: It counts as assisted. The question is marked revealed, and a reading you pick or type afterwards is kept but never scored as right. The unassisted score is right answers out of right plus wrong, so a reveal is left out of it rather than counted as wrong, and the summary lists reveals on their own line.
Is the ruler on screen actual size?: No. The drawing is stretched to fit your screen, so an inch here is not an inch on your desk, and this is practice at reading a scale. The line under the ruler says how many pixels apart its smallest ticks are at the current width, and 2x zoom spreads them further. To measure something at true size on screen, use the online ruler, which you calibrate against a card.
Can a whole class practise the same questions?: Yes. Every set has a set number. Type it in the Set number box and choose the same ruler, ticks, level and number of questions, and the same rulers, markers and choices come up in the same order on any device. Answering by choices or by typing does not change the questions.
Is my progress saved?: Your settings, the set in progress and up to ten of your latest finished or ended sets with at least one answer are kept in this browser's local storage, so a reload brings you back to the same question. Your answers are not sent anywhere. The Start over button above the tool clears them.

Every question is an original ruler drawn here with its marker exactly on a tick, so each answer is exact to the smallest division shown, down to 1/16 in or 1 mm, in lowest terms and never rounded to a coarser tick. The drawing is scaled to fit your screen rather than true to size, so this is practice at reading a scale, not a physical measurement, and a score here is not a trade test or certification result. Revealed answers count as assisted and stay out of your unassisted score.