There are two types of rulers: American and metric. This article teaches you to read both.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: American Rulers
Step 1. Take an American ruler
It must have a total of 12 inches marked. Between each of the inch marks, there should be 15 smaller marks.
Step 2. Learn the "1/16 of an inch" marks
This means that there are 16 of these marks between each inch mark and 192 of them on the entire ruler.
Step 3. Learn the "1/8 of an inch" marks
In total there are 96 of them across the entire ruler.
Step 4. Learn the "1/4 of an inch" marks
In total, there are 48 of them across the entire ruler.
Step 5. Learn the "1/2 inch" marks
In total there are 24 of them across the entire ruler.
Step 6. Learn the "inch" marks
A ruler is made of 12 of these marks. These are numbered.
Method 2 of 2: Metric Ruler
Step 1. Take a measuring ruler
There must be a foot in it. Between each centimeter mark, there should be 10 smaller marks.
Step 2. Learn the "1/10th of a centimeter" marks, or the "millimeter" marks
That means there are 300 of these marks on the entire ruler.
Step 3. Learn the "1/2 centimeter" marks, or "5mm" marks
In total, there are 150 of them on the entire ruler.
Step 4. Learn the "centimeter" marks
In total there are 30 of them across the entire ruler. These are numbered.