Measure

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Measure

To measure something is to give a number to some property of the thing. Measuring something puts the amount of the thing into numbers.

1 What can be Measured?
2 Units of Measurement
3 Measure Theory
4 See Also

[edit] What can be Measured?

Many things can be measured. Some properties of things that can be measured:

Distance: For example, distance measurements can be used to answer the following questions;
- How far is the city from here?
- How far apart are these two trees?
- How long is this stick?
Weight: For example, weight measurements can be used to answer the following questions;
- What is more heavy, this group of apples or that group of bananas?
- Did John gain weight in the last year?
- Will putting this rock in the boat make the boat sink?
Temperature: For example, temperature measurements can be used to answer the following questions;
- Is it hotter today in London or in Paris?
- Will this ice turn into water if I put it inside?
- Is Sally sick? Does Sally have a fever?
Volume: For example, volume measurements can be used to answer the following questions;
- How many pails of water do I need to fill up the bath tub?
- How much olive oil do I put in this food I am making?
- How many blocks can I fit in this box?
Pressure: For example, pressure measurements can be used to answer the following questions;
- How much air should I put in this automobile tire?
- Will the weather stay good or will we have a storm?
- Will my ears pop when I climb that hill?

One can measure many other things.

[edit] Units of Measurement

The numbers for the measured properties only mean something if the units of measurement are known. A unit of measurement is a carefully measured amount. The units of measurement let the properties of a thing being measured be compared to the properties of something else that is well known.

For example, John wants to measure the length of his board. Tom tells John that his board is 10 long. John does not know what a length of ten means without a unit of measurement. The board could be 10 feet long, or ten meters long, or ten inches long, or ten millimeters long, or ten cubits long, or something else. These are all different lengths, because the units of measurement are different. Just knowing the length number ten alone is not enough.