Here is a chunk of a meterstick.

What makes it so cool?

  • Well first, notice that it's not crowded like a standard ruler.
  • You don't see a several different types of markings like on standard rulers.
  • You don't have to worry about 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 3/8, 5/8, 1/16, 3/16, blah blah blah.


    • Notice that between each number are 10 little divisions.  These are millimeters.  10 of these make up one centimeter.  10 centimeters make up one decimeter.  10 decimeters (or 100 cm or 1000mm) make up one meter.

    Try that with a standard ruler!  If you want to switch from eighths of an inch to inches, you have to divide by 8.  To switch from quarters of an inch to feet, you have to divide by 48.  It goes on an on.
    Look at this old college id card. 
  • If you count millimeters, you'd end up with 86 of them. 
  • Or, if you counted centimeters, it'd be 8.6. 
  • OR, if you used decimeters, you'd have .86.


    • These conversions are harder with our system!  You would have to measure the card to the nearest 16th of an inch, and if you wanted to know any other unit, you'd have to multiply or divide by weird numbers like 12 or 48 or 36.
     
    How big is a meter?  It's a little bigger than a yard (1m=39.37in actually).
    Here is some geek displaying his favorite meter stick.
    How many dm are on it? 10  How many cm? 100 How many mm? 1000
    HA! It is simple!  How many 8th's are on a yardstick? (you don't know, do you!)

    Maybe this page will make things snap into place for you.