[2.1] Practical Mensuration and Pace Factoring

• mensuration

  • Deals with the measurements of lengths of lines, areas of surfaces, and volumes of solids.
  • The noun for the verb measure.
  • May or may not require the use of measuring tools
• measurement


  The value of the length, distance, area, or volume of a certain object. These are the values you obtain when you conduct mensuration.
• practical mensuration


  Technique for making accurate and precise measurements without the use of measuring tools.
• English or Imperial System of Measurements


  originated from basic body part measurements
• thumb width


  Horizontal width of the thumb from one side to the other. It was believed that the inch unit of measure originated from using the width of a thumb as one unit of measure (an inch).
• hand span or dangkal


  Span from thumb to pinky finger spread out; often used when measuring the height of piles of paper, the height of liquid in bottles, and another small measurement.
• cubit


  Length from the elbow to the fingertip. Often used to measure lengths of strings and other small measurement. 1 cubit = 18 inches
• foot


  The measure of the length of a foot, which is from the heel to the toe, was believed to be the origin of the length of a foot from the English System. 1 foot = 12 inches
• waist


  To measure your waist circumference, wrap the tape measure between the top of your hip and the bottom of your lowermost rib. Breathe out naturally before taking the measurement. The waist circumference or the waistline is often used in choosing the size of clothes to wear; it may also indicate the health of a person since it is proportional to the body mass index of a person.
• wingspan or dipa


  Length of hands stretched out on both sides. It is said that your wingspan is almost the same length as your overall height. It is used to measure relatively large measurements like wall lengths and hole depths. In sports, often used to measure the physical ability of athletes.
• overall height


  Length from heel to top of head when standing straight up. Most are used to describe the physical attributes of people. Almost the same applications with wingspan or dipa
• reach


  Length from the heel up to the tip of the arms spreading upward. It is obviously longer than the overall height since the additional length was added with the arms spreading upward. Also used to measure relatively large measurements
• methods of measuring horizontal distance

  • taping
  • pacing
  • eyeball estimate
• taping


  Involves the use of tape measure and other measuring tools to accurately measure the length of a relatively long horizontal distance.
• pacing


  Less accurate compared to taping but once you determine your pace factor; it will no longer require any measuring device to measure horizontal distances. Involves walking or pacing at a distance you are going to determine. The measured distance is equal to the number of paces taken multiplied by the pace factor.
• eyeball estimate


  The least accurat.e method. Estimation of measurements through raw ocular observation. Seldom becomes accurate and estimates improve through years of experience. Only used for initial guesses of the actual measurement and should never be used as the basis for engineering projects. Useful when a quick measurement estimate is needed
• pace


  Length of a step while walking; maybe measured from toe-to-toe, or heel-to-heel.
• stride


  Equivalent to two paces or a double step.
• pace factor


  The ratio of a measured distance to the number of paces made to cover the measured distance. In determining the pace factor, a higher measured distance will result in a more accurate and more reliable pace factor. In simple terms, your pace factor is the average length of your step, thus you can measure a certain distance by multiplying the number of steps it took you to walk that distance and multiply it by your pace factor.