Measurement: The Forgotten Standard

Measurement is a fundamental process that spans all branches of mathematics and connects mathematics to the world. 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. Here, Foley addresses measurement that teachers need to incorporate it into their mathematics teaching everyday. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Measurement Standard states that instructional programs should enable all students to understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement; and apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements. Measurement encompasses much more than angle size, area, and perimeter and is certainly not limited to geometry.