How do carpenters measure?

Basic Measurements The carpenter must measure and mark points with a tape measure, which typically have marks at 1/16 inch intervals; four intervals translate to 4/16, or ¼-inch. With proportions and cross-products, a carpenter can convert a decimal measurement to one to be read on a tape measure.

work.chron.com - Do You Have to Know Math to Be a Carpenter? - Work - Chron.com

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Carpenters shape and transform wood into the roofs, walls, floors, kitchen cabinets, counters and other parts of homes, offices, hospitals and storage buildings. Small construction companies, large contractors and the military are among those seeking the talents of carpenters. The necessary skill set involves, not only the ability to cut, hammer and nail, but also to apply various mathematical and geometric formulas and rules. Basic math is most often used, but scenarios involving the pythogorean theorem include building a roof, for example.

Basic Measurements

Accurate measurements are essential to a carpenter’s practice, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The carpenter must measure and mark points with a tape measure, which typically have marks at 1/16 inch intervals; four intervals translate to 4/16, or ¼-inch. With proportions and cross-products, a carpenter can convert a decimal measurement to one to be read on a tape measure. When an architect draws plans to scale, application of ratios supplies the actual measurement. For example, if a drawing uses ¼ inch to represent 1 foot and the rectangle is drawn 2 inches long, the carpenter measures the length at 8 feet.

Calculation of Materials

Carpenters rely on math to determine the amount of supplies and materials they need -- and often how to price their jobs. The amount of wood for subflooring, toy boxes, porches or outdoor decks depends on the area of the square or squares involved, usually measured in square feet. Wood beams must be measured for thickness so that the carpenter will have the correct length of nails or screws or thickness of wall fasteners, or wall grippers.

The Roof

Carpenters are among the jobs that use the pythagorean theorem. A roof is essentially two side-by-side right triangles. Carpenters use the Pythagorean Theorem in real life to calculate and measure the length of the rafter, known as the hypotenuse. For example, if a roof rises 18 inches, or 1.5 feet, and runs 15 feet, the carpenter multiplies 1.5 feet twice and 15 feet twice for a sum of 227.25; the square root, and thus the rafter’s length, is approximately 15.075. The resulting hypotenuse is converted from decimal to the feet-inches format used on a tape measure or ruler. Carpenters also calculate rise and run when building staircases, constructing foundations and squaring walls, according to Carpentry-Pro-Framer.

Constructing Shapes Using Math

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