Final answer:
The measurement of the distance from the bottom of the elbow to the fingertips, use a measuring tape. For smaller measurements, like the length of a pinkie finger, use a ruler and round to the nearest 0.5 cm.
Step-by-step explanation:
To measure the distance from the bottom of the elbow to the fingertips, one would typically use a measuring tape, as this tool is suitable for measuring items or distances that are longer than a foot. The measurement should ideally be taken with the arm extended to ensure accuracy. When measuring, it is important to ensure there is no gap and the measuring tape does not extend more than ½ inch past the fingertips to maintain precision.
If measuring the length of a pinkie finger, a ruler can be used since it is a smaller object. The length should be rounded to the nearest 0.5 cm to match the data collection guidelines, which state that lengths should be rounded in this manner. When using a ruler without millimeter markings, the tenths digit can be estimated, leading to slight variations in the reported measurement (e.g., 2.4 cm, 2.5 cm, or 2.6 cm).
Remember the useful approximate measurements: one inch is roughly the length of your thumb from the tip to the knuckle and this can help in visualizing measurements and estimating distances when a measuring tool is not immediately available.