Unit 28

Rulers or Tape Measures

Basic Principles of ReadingRulers or Tape Measures

• A ruler is a measuring device.

• Two types of rulers used in health occupations:– Tape measure, used to measure the height

of infants.– Height beam on a scale, used to measure

the height of children and adults.

Basic Principles of Reading Rulers or Tape Measures

• Most tape measures are divided into inches and fractions of inches.

• Note that fractions are reduced to lowest terms.– For example, 2/8 = 1/4.

Basic Principles of Reading Height Bars

• The height bar on a scale is also marked in inches and fractions of inches. – On the bar shown here, each small line

represents 1/4 of an inch. – Each large line is marked and represents an

inch. – To accommodate varying heights, the top

part of the bar separates from the bottom part at an area called a “break.”

Converting Inches to Feet and Inches

• Because a person’s height is not stated as 62 1/2 in, the inches must be converted to feet and inches.

• There are 12 inches (in) in 1 foot (ft), so the inches are divided by 12. The remainder is left in inches.

Rulers or Tape Measures

• Example: Convert 74 ¾ inches to feet and inches.

– Divide 74 ¾ by 12:

– Remainder = inches:

– Therefore: 74 ¾ in = 6 ft 2 ¾ in

Practical Problem

• Convert 53 ½ inches to feet and inches.

Practical Problem

• Divide the whole number by 12 for feet; the remainder is inches:

53 ½ inches = 4 feet 5 ½ inches