Reading scales - Length and weight

When measuring length, weight or capacity you use scales, such as a measuring scale for length (ruler), a weight scale (cooking scales) and a liquid scale (jug). Digital weight scales are easy to read, but with other scales you have to read them more carefully.

Here are some examples of reading from scales:

Length - ruler: The nail starts at zero and measures up to 3 cm.

Each cm is marked but there are unmarked divisions in-between.

These divisions divide each cm into 10 parts.

Each division is equal to 1 mm as 10 mm = 1 cm.

The nail measures 3 cm or 30 mm.

Remember: Not all divisions on scales are marked.

Tip: Make sure you measure from the zero mark, not the end of the ruler.

Weight - cooking scales: The pointer on these scales is between two divisions, 0 g and 500 g.

There are 5 divisions between these two values. Each division is 100 g.

The pointer is 4 divisions from 0. So the weight is 400 g.

Tip: Before you weigh items on mechanical scales - make sure the pointer is at zero.