Hatch Mark - Unit and Value Marks

Unit and Value Marks

Every ruler or number line that uses vertical line segments to mark distance values is using unit & value hatch marks. The marks appear as single vertical line segments that are parallel to each other and evenly spaced. This distance between each mark is one unit. Each mark has a value at that location. The length of the segment is usually an indication of the size of the value. For example, longer line segments are usually used for integers (or just natural numbers). Shorter line segments are usually used for fractions. The hatch mark pattern on the ruler or number line gives the viewer a visual clue as to the value at a certain point on the number line, even if all the hatch marks do not have labels.

<----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----> -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

This type of usage of hatch marks falls in the range of number theory and geometry. It is here that the term hatch marks is interchangeable with hash marks or tick marks.

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Famous quotes containing the words unit and, unit and/or marks:

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