MEASUREMENT &
DIMENSIONS
STEM Foundations
MEASUREMENT &
DIMENSIONS
Essential Question for the Lesson:
How do we use measurement in both the
SI and English Standard measurement
systems?
Measurement Background
Over 20 billion measurements are made daily in the US.
Old standard systems dates back to early monarchy of
England (8th & 9th century)
King Henry I – nose to finger tip = yard
King Edgar- knuckle = inch
King Charles- royal foot = 1 foot
Measurement Background
SI system is an international system based off of units of
10
US is the only industrial nation not to use SI system as its
standard system
Why?
Used world wide in science, engineering & trade
International System (SI)
Developed by the French in the early 1800’s
Base unit is a meter
Smallest division is a millimeter
10 mm=1 centimeter (cm)
10 cm=1 decimeter (dm)
10 dm = 1 meter
PRACTICE SHEET
 Complete the Metric Measurement Lab #1
handout for review
READING A RULER
The red lines on these rulers are marked at 1/2,
and 1
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 red marks on these rulers are at 1/8, 1/4, 3/8,
1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 1.
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.
DIVIDING FRACTIONS
 In building/designing there will be several times
you will need to determine half of a specific
measurement. When dividing fractions by 2, we
will multiply the fraction by the reciprocal of 2
which is ½.
 Our numerator is multiplied by 1 and the
denominator is multiplied by 2.
Ex: What is half of 5/8? *Hint: Simply double the denominator.
Answer=5/16
DIVIDING FRACTIONS
 Divide the following fractions in half:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
¾= 3/8
1/8= 1/16
5/16= 5/32
7/8= 7/16
1-11/16= 27/32
ADDING FRACTIONS
 Make sure the bottom numbers (the denominators)
are the same (Least common denominator)
 Add the top numbers (the numerators). Put the
answer over the same denominator as in step 1
 Simplify the fraction
Ex: What is ¼” +5/8”?
*Hint: Find the least common denominator of each fraction.
Answer=7/8”
8 is the LCD
¼=2/8
5/8=5/8
ADDING FRACTIONS
 Add the following fractions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
½ +1/4= 3/4
1/8+3/4= 7/8
5/16+1/4= 9/16
7/8+3/16+3/4= 29/16=1-13/16
11/16+1/8+1/4= 17/16= 1-1/16
Converting Decimals
½ = .5
¼ = .25
¾ = .75
1/8 = .125
3/8 = .375
5/8 = .625
7/8 = .875
Converting Decimals
1/16 = .0625
9/16 = .5625
3/16 = .1875
11/16 = .6875
5/16 = .3125
13/16 = .8125
7/16 = .4375
15/16 = .9375
PRACTICE SHEET
 Complete the following practice sheet
individually. Be sure to make your answers
are recorded in feet and inches.