Lab Activity for Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Name ______________________________ Date _________________________ Class _________________

Lab Activity 7-6

Using a Tape Measure
Objectives
After completing this lab activity, you will be able to:
• Recognize measurements on a tape measure.
• Add common fractions and decimals.
• Use a tape measure to gain accurate measurements.

Introduction
This activity will allow you to practice using a tape measure. Making ductwork,
measuring square footage, and getting a ceiling height are common situations when an
HVACR technician needs to know how to use a tape measure. Using and reading a tape
measure correctly are fundamental skills in the HVACR industry.

Text Reference
Chapter 7, Tools and Supplies.

Equipment
The following tools and equipment are needed to perform these activities:
• Tape measure (US customary)
• Door for measuring
• Classroom/lab area for measuring
• Window for measuring

Safety Review
Follow all safety procedures specified by your instructor and specified in any
appropriate manufacturer’s information. The following are some additional safety-
related items to keep in mind:
• Wear safety glasses at all times.
• When taking any measurements, use caution to not extend a metal tape
measure into any live electrical circuits. Shock or electrocution may result.

Activity 7-6 Page 1

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website. 5/19/22
 Lab Activity for Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

• When taking measurements, always study your surroundings for any fall or trip
hazards.

Reading a Tape Measure

Before using a tape measure to take measurements, you need to know how to read it.
For this activity, you will be taking measurements in inches and feet. Standard tape
measures measure down to 1/16″, meaning there are sixteen “tick marks” between
every inch. When taking measurements, you will find that your measurements are often
in fractional amounts. Reading fractions is an important skill needed when using a tape
measure.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Fractions frequently need to be added or subtracted when taking measurements. The
following are some common fractions problems you will need to solve when taking
measurements. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with as many of these as you can.
In the HVACR trade, you will need to know how to add and subtract fractions.
1/8″ + 1/4″ =3/8″
1/4″ +1/4″ = 1/2″
3/8″ +1/4″ =5/8″
3/8″ + 1/8″ = 1/2″
3/8″ + 3/8″ = 3/4″
1/4″ + 1/2″ = 3/4″
3/8″ + 1/2″ = 7/8″
1/2″ + 1/2″ = 1″
1/2″ + 5/8″ = 1 1/8″
5/8″ + 1/8″ = 3/4″
3/4″ + 1/2″ = 1 1/4″
3/4″ + 5/8″ = 1 3/8″
3/4″ + 3/4″ = 1 1/2″
1/4″ – 1/8″ = 1/8″
1″ – 1/2″ = 1/2″
3/4″ – 1/8″ = 5/8″
1/2″ – 1/8″ = 3/8″
5/8″ – 1/4″ = 3/8″

Activity 7-6 Page 2

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website. 5/19/22
 Lab Activity for Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

5/8″ – 1/2″ = 1/8″

3/4″ – 1/4″ = 1/2″
3/8″ – 1/4″ = 1/8″
1/2″ – 1/4″ = 1/4″
1″ – 1/8″ = 7/8″
1″ – 1/4″ = 3/4″
1″ – 3/4″ = 1/4″
2 1/2″ – 1 1/4″ = 1 1/4″
Practice adding and subtracting fractions by solving the following problems.
2 3/8
1. 1 3/8″ + 1 3/8″ = _____
4 1/4
2. 2 7/8″ + 1 3/8″ = _____
5 7/8
3. 2 1/4″ + 3 5/8″ = _____
4. 7 1/4″ + 4 5/8″ =11 7/8
_____
3 3/4
5. 1 1/2″ + 2 1/4″ = _____
2 3/4
6. 8 3/8″ – 5 5/8″ = _____
2 1/4
7. 5 1/8″ – 2 7/8″ = _____
1 3/4
8. 4 7/8″ – 3 1/8″ = _____
9. 3 3/4″ – 1 1/8″ = 2 5/8
_____
3/4
10. 2 1/2″ – 1 3/4″ = _____

Adding and Subtracting Decimals

There are times when you will need to convert your measurements to decimal form.
Here are some common fraction-to-decimal conversions. Decimal equivalents are found
by dividing the top number in the fraction (numerator) by the bottom number
(denominator).
1/16″ = 0.0625
1/8″ = 0.125
3/16″ = 0.1875
1/4″ = 0.25
5/16″ = 0.3125
3/8″ = 0.375
7/16″ = 0.4375

Activity 7-6 Page 3

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website. 5/19/22
 Lab Activity for Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

1/2″ = 0.50
9/16″ = 0.5625
5/8″ = 0.625
11/16″ = 0.6875
3/4″ = 0.750
13/16″ = 0.8125
7/8″ = 0.875
15/16″ = 0.9375
1″ = 1.00
Practice adding and subtracting decimals by solving the following problems.
0.75
1. 0.125 + 0.625 = _____
0.875
2. 0.750 + 0.125 = _____
0.75
3. 0.3125 + 0.4375 = _____
0.875
4. 0.50 + 0.375 = _____
0.3125
5. 0.25 + 0.0625 = _____
1.75
6. 0.875 + 0.875 = _____
7. 0.750 – 0.6875 = 0.0625
_____
8. 0.9375 – 0.0625= 0.875
_____
9. 0.8125 – 0.375 = 0.4375
_____
0.125
10. 0.5625 – 0.4375 = _____
0.375
11. 0.625 – 0.25 = _____
12. 0.750 – 0.1875 = 0.5625
_____

Taking Measurements
Use your tape measure to take measurements of the door to your classroom or lab area.
Round to the nearest 1/16″.
1. Measure the height and width of the door and record the measurements.
6 0
A. Height: _____′-_____″
3 0
B. Width: _____′-_____″

Activity 7-6 Page 4

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website. 5/19/22
 Lab Activity for Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

2. Convert the “foot and inch” height and width measurements to inches.
72
A. Height: _____″
36
B. Width: _____″
3. Convert the height and width measurements from inches to decimals.
0 72
C. Height: _____._____
0 36
D. Width: _____._____
4. Using the decimal measurements, multiply the height of the door by the width of
the door to find the area of the door.
0 72 × Width _____._____
A. Height_____._____ 0 0 2592
36 = _____._____
5. Since one square foot is 144 square inches (in2), divide this number to find the
square footage (ft2) of the door. Then, convert the square footage measurement
from a decimal to a mixed number.
0 0018 ft2
0 2975÷ 144 in2 = _____._____
A. Find square footage: _____._____
B. Convert to a mixed number: 0.0018
_____ ft2
Use your tape measure to take measurements of your classroom or lab area. Round to
the nearest 1/16″.
1. Record the length, width, and height of your classroom or lab area.
34 ft
A. Length: _____′-_____″
24ft
B. Width: _____′-_____″
8
C. Height: _____′-_____″
7ft
2. Convert the “foot and inch” length, width, and height measurements to inches.
408
A. Length: _____″
288
B. Width: _____″
92
C. Height: _____″
3. Convert the length, width, and height measurements to decimals.
4. 08
D. Length: _____._____″
E. Width: _____._____″
2. 88
0 92
F. Height: _____._____″
4. Multiply the length by the width. This is the area (in square inches) of your
classroom or lab area.
28ft
A. Length _____._____ 30ft
″ × Width _____._____ 0 5419 in2
″ = _____._____

Activity 7-6 Page 5

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website. 5/19/22
 Lab Activity for Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

5. Multiply the total square inches by the height of the classroom to find the
volume of the classroom or lab area.
A. Volume: _____.
0 _____5419× Height 9ft
_____. _____ = _____. 8771
4 _____
6. Since there are 1728 cubic inches (in3) in a cubic foot, divide the total volume by
1728 to find the total cubic feet of your classroom or lab area.
0 002822
A. _____._____ 0.0833 ft3
÷ 1728 in3 = _____._____
B. Convert to a mixed number: _____ 3
1/12 ft

Activity 7-6 Page 6

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website. 5/19/22