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Original poster

What the hell is this measurement?

63 replies

SmugOldBag · 29/05/2022 23:07

What is the measurement on the this tape measure? I'm so ridiculously confused!

Is that 17.5 cm or is it 16.5 cm?

Two degrees and I can't work out how to use a tape measure! Blush

OP posts:
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8
TangyTangerine · 30/05/2022 00:23

SmugOldBag · 29/05/2022 23:39

The results of @BarbaraofSeville string test with a fairly trusty metal tape measure reveal the measurement to be 16.5!
(That black dot on the string is the original measurement)

Um op i think your second measuring tape (which is even more confusing) is showing 17.5 as well.

So you are interpreting the number before the long line to indicate the cm for the following interval but confusingly I think it's the number at the end of the interval that indicates the cm.

Not sure that explanation makes sense but I still think it's 17.5 on both tape measures.

(And I think you might need to retrospectively add 1 cm to a lot of measurements you've made in the past....)

LovePoppy · 30/05/2022 00:24

17.5

Thighdentitycrisis · 30/05/2022 00:29

It’s 16.5

TangyTangerine · 30/05/2022 00:33

SmugOldBag · 29/05/2022 23:39

The results of @BarbaraofSeville string test with a fairly trusty metal tape measure reveal the measurement to be 16.5!
(That black dot on the string is the original measurement)

It kind of makes sense to have the 7 at the end of the interval (ie the bit between the lines going all the way from one side to other side of the tape measure) because if you start from zero the first interval in your tape would be less than 1cm (ie 1mm, 2mm) etc till the first long line (at the end of what I'm calling an interval) and the first long line (going all the way from side to side) would be 1cm.

It's like with age. We consider our age to be the years that we have completed.

ozymandiusking · 30/05/2022 00:34

Big discussion here and both my husband and I agree it's 16.5 And, I would suggest you buy another tape measure as yours is rather deceptive.

alphons · 30/05/2022 00:58

I was going to say 17cm.

Then I saw that under “6” it says 150cm.

Is this for human bodies, this tape measure??

MmeMeursault · 30/05/2022 01:05

17.1cm

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 30/05/2022 01:13

alphons · 30/05/2022 00:58

I was going to say 17cm.

Then I saw that under “6” it says 150cm.

Is this for human bodies, this tape measure??

It's entirely possible for a person to need 150cm to measure round them; KAM jeans you can buy on Amazon go up to a 60"/152cm waist. Devices like this are helpful for those with limited mobility, which someone with a larger waist may have, so it makes sense they'd spend the tiny fraction extra manufacturing one with a longer tape that they can then sell to a wider range of people.

Sqeebling · 30/05/2022 01:13

I'd be binning that awful tape measure. I have loads lying around the house and none are as confusing as that.

Sqeebling · 30/05/2022 01:15

And why does it read as 150cm next to the 6 ? What's that all about ?

SunnyShiner · 30/05/2022 08:25

It's 16.5

PlantingTrees · 30/05/2022 08:36

Omg I have a tape measure like that. Seriously buy a new one. I could never figure it out and would always have to look at zero-one to know. I think it’s 17cm tho.

PlantingTrees · 30/05/2022 08:40

Just seen you posted what it is. That’s the exact reason I bought a new tape measure. One that actually makes sense

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