Measuring a Puddle

Date: 09/05/2002 at 20:25:43
From: Alisa White
Subject: My Problem Of The Week

How many different ways can you measure a puddle? 

I need ideas.  Could you please help me?

Date: 09/06/2002 at 17:00:35
From: Doctor Ian
Subject: Re: My Problem Of The Week

Hi Alisa,

How you measure a puddle depends on what you want to know about it:   
  
  To measure the depth, you can poke a stick into the puddle
  until hits the bottom.    

  To measure the length, you can hold a yardstick above the puddle.   

  To measure the circumference (the distance around), you 
  can place a piece of string around the rim of the puddle 
  and then use a yardstick to measure the string.   

  To measure the volume, you could suck all the water up 
  with a vacuum cleaner or a sponge and measure it with a
  measuring cup. 

Does this help? 

- Doctor Ian, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/