What items have these measurements?

[dstebbins]

I need a pair of items... commonly occurring items that you can find virtually anywhere in the world. One of them needs to be EXACTLY six inches long, by standard design, and the other needs to be EXACTLY nine inches long, by standard design.

 

When I say "standard design," I mean something like how a large paper clip, by standard design, weighs about a gram.

 

Any ideas?

[DrP]

A six inch nail and a nine inch nail? What are they for?

[dstebbins]

Ok, let me try this one.

 

I need something that is EXACTLY one inch long.

 

And, here's an idea of what I would ask for.

 

If I needed something that is exactly eight inches, you would probably say "the width of a sheet of looseleaf paper." However, do not say "the height of a DVD case," because that isn't commonly occurring anywhere in the world; some third world countries don't have that yet.

 

So, no longer do I need six inches and nine inches. Just give me an item that is ONE inch, and I'll just put 6 and 9 of those together.

[the tree]

Paper sizes aren't an international standard either. DVD cases are actually a lot more standard, although a CD/DVD itself would be a pretty good bet for standard sizes. Third world countries for that matter, are more likely to have a CD or two lying around than to still use Imperial measurements.

 

edit: WolframAlpha suggests an AA battery as being 2 inches.

[michel123456]

Inches are used worldwide in industry for metallic tube diameters, with high accuracy., even in Europe. You just have to care knowing whether diameter is inside or outside. 6 & 9 inches are quite big. Usually most circular elements are in inches (wheels a.s.o.). Also many ceramic tiles follow inch standards but with less accuracy.

[John Cuthber]

Paper sizes are an international standard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_216

It's just that America doesn't use the standard.

 

A six inch ruler is going to be the same size, no matter where you are.

[insane_alien]

possibly a silly answer here, but couldn't you just buy a tape measure with inches on it and cut it to the appropriate lengths?

 

or better yet(though more work) use it to machine a rod of metal to have the appropriate dimensions?

[Klaynos]

Pipe diameters in the UK, the most likely to use imperial, and we use metric sizes. Sorry.