Since our ancestors first counted the passing seasons, humans have used measurement to help master and understand our world. Hosted by the engaging Oxford mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, this program shows how measurements have shaped the course of history, science, and civilization; and changed every aspect of our daily lives.

King Balbazar's kingdom has made a mess of measuring. People measure length with everything from candlesticks to sausages to spoons. Finally, King Balbazar holds a contest. Who will come up with the winning unit of measurement and what will it be?

Most of the rest of the world is on the metric system, and for a time in the 1970s America appeared ready to make the switch. Yet it never happened, and the reasons for that get to the root of who we think we are, just as the measurements are woven into the ways we think. Marciano chronicles the origins of measurement systems, the kaleidoscopic array of standards throughout Europe and the thirteen American colonies, the combination of intellect and...

The ancient Romans certainly had a hand--and foot--in the way we measure distance today, but modern technology has advanced measuring techniques considerably. Scientists have used nanotechnology to make the study of even minuscule distances more tangible. Readers discover this information and much more through text and illustrations as they learn about the concepts involved and the tools used to measure distance.

Volume, the amount of space that a substance or object occupies, is an important math concept for readers to grasp. This book guides readers to learn the simple formula for finding volume. The information provided is accompanied by vibrant photographs and engaging illustrations. Readers learn about shapes--both regular and irregular--as they solve for exact volumes or estimates.