Step 1 : Introduction to the question "5. If you have ever taken a standardized test, you may have heard of the "#2" pencil. What does this rating system refer to?"
...1. The hardness or blackness of the lead 2. The size of the eraser 3. The quality of the pencil 4. The thickness of the point The Cont� process allows the manufacturer to vary the hardness or blackness of the lead by adjusting the ratio of graphite to clay. Hard pencils are useful for making precise drawings; soft and black pencils are good for sketching and drawing. There are two different rating schemes. One, invented by Faber, uses letters: ...3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B... going from hardest to softest and blackest. What the letters stand for is a mystery. H could be "hard," and B could be "black," but what is the F? And since Faber was German, shouldn't these stand for German words? The other system uses numbers, #1, #2, #3, etc. #1 = B, #2 = HB, #2.5 = F, #3 = H, and #4 = 2H.
