The Giant inch
The Giant inch (32nds)
The Giant Inch 16
Terminology
Historically, what we call today a ruler, was known as a rule, and the measuring device was called rules. Today the term ruler is used more. Either way, both terms are in the dictionary and both can be used. Throughout this document, however, I am only going to use the term ruler.
Metric Rulers
Long metric rulers are fairly
Easy to read. They deal with centimeters and millimeters only. You won’t have to worry much about fractions
Take a look at the following Metric Ruler.
The longer lines labled with numbers are centimeters, and the shorter lines are millimeters. Since millimeters are 1/10th of a centimeter, if you measure 7 marks after a centimeter, it is 1.7 centimeters long.
English Rulers
English rulers, are much more difficult to read. Mostly because they deal with fractions, which are a bit
more difficult to learn.
look at the following English Rulers.
Ruler marked in 8ths. Every mark is 1/8th of an inch.
Ruler marked in 8ths. Every mark is 1/8th of an inch.
A ruler marked in 16ths. Every mark is 1/16th of an inch.
The center mark between numbers is 1/2. 
The red lines on these rulers are marked at 1/2, and 1.
The next smallest marks on a ruler are 1/4ths. 
The red marks on these rulers are at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1. (1/2 is the same as 2/4)
The next smallest marks on a ruler are 1/8ths.
The red marks on these rulers are at 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 1.
The next smallest mark, if there are any, are 1/16ths.
The red marks on this ruler are at 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.
When marking down a distance from a ruler, mark the whole inch, followed by a space, then the fraction of an inch.
For example, 1 1/2, or 2 3/8.
When entering fractions into the conversion calculators, you have to seperate the whole number and the fraction with a + sign.
For example, 1+1/2, or 2+3/8.
For More Information: OXO Magazine
