Sound Off!: Measurement: The Forgotten Standard

Measurement is a fundamental process that spans all branches of mathematics and connects mathematics to the world around us. At the most basic level, “measurement is the assignment of a numerical value to an attribute of an object, such as the length of a pencil. At more-sophisticated levels, measurement involves assigning a number to a characteristic of a situation, as is done by the consumer price index” (NCTM 2000, p. 44). During high school, students' understanding of measurable attributes, systems of units, and measurement processes should grow in sophistication and depth.