How Can I Calculate IR Value in MTM Thermocouples?

The thread title asks how to calculate a thermocouple's mV (IR) value, but the body asks how to check the value. That's two different things.

As Fredski points out, IR is part of Ohm's Law: E=IR. Thermocouples generate a EMF (voltage) that varies by the difference across the gradient, that is, between the hot end and the cold end.

To check the output of the thermocouple, use a voltmeter. The catch is that the temperature vs mV tables show the correct mV only when the cold junction is at the freezing point of water. It is highly unlikely that your handheld DVM's probe leads are at 0°C or 32°F. The temperature of the cold end must be determined (thermometer?), and cold junction compensation (difference between the cold end temperature and the freezing point of water) added to get the corresponding measured temperature.

To calculate the T/C's mV, one assume the temperatures (hot and cold junction tempeatures) are known through some other means. The measured point temperature is the sum of the cold junction value and the thermocouple's EMF value.

But I suspect that IR is used as a means to confuse things, since IR is also an abbreviation for infrared, another means of measuring temperature.