Figure

Measurements and units

Arithmetic with measurements

Add, subtract, scale, and divide measured lengths and inch fractions.

Measured arithmetic keeps track of units as well as numbers. Adding two lengths gives a length, multiplying a length by a count scales it, and dividing one length by another gives a unitless count.

Add lengths

Label each length before adding it.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

Calculate

  1. First length

    Press 11, then inches, then Add.

  2. Next length

    Press 2, then feet, then 1, then inches, then Equals.
  1. Example result3 feet 0 inches

Subtract a length

Label each length before subtracting it.1

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

Calculate

  1. Starting length

    Press 11, then feet, then 7, then inches, then 1, then Fraction, then 2, then Subtract.

  2. Length to subtract

    Press 3, then feet, then Equals.
  1. Example result8 feet 7 and 1/2 inches

Multiply by a count

Label the piece length. Leave the count without units.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

Calculate

  1. Piece length

    Press 2, then feet, then 7, then inches, then Multiply.

  2. Number of pieces

    Press 10, then Equals.
  1. Example result25 feet 10 inches

Divide into equal lengths

Divide the total length by the number of equal parts.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

Calculate

  1. Total length

    Press 20, then feet, then 3, then inches, then Divide.

  2. Number of parts

    Press 9, then Equals.
  1. Example result2 feet 3 inches

Divide by another length

Label both lengths. The answer is a count.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

Calculate

  1. Total length

    Press 30, then feet, then 4, then inches, then Divide.

  2. Piece length

    Press 7, then inches, then Equals.
  1. Example result52

Add and subtract fractions

Enter each inch fraction as top number → / → bottom number.2

Start a new calculation

  1. Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

Calculate

  1. First inch fraction

    Press 1, then Fraction, then 2, then Add.

  2. Second inch fraction

    Press 3, then Fraction, then 8, then Add.

  3. Third inch fraction

    Press 11, then Fraction, then 16, then Equals.

  4. Subtract

    Press Subtract.

  5. Inch fraction to subtract

    Press 5, then Fraction, then 8, then Equals.
  1. Example result15/16 inch

Display assumptions

  1. Fraction format: Simplified. ↩

  2. Fraction precision: 1/16″; Fraction format: Simplified. ↩

Keep the guide beside your calculation.

These examples are built into Figure. Open Help while you calculate, then return to the same guide and reading position.

See Help in Figure →