Measurements quantify the size, orientation, coordinates, and other characteristics of Sketchpad objects. All measured values update dynamically in Sketchpad when you change the objects they measure. Often you can gain important mathematical insights by observing how measurements change and how they relate to each other and to other objects in the sketch.

All measurements have numeric values of one sort or another. Most measurements (except for coordinate pair and equation measurements) have a single value. Like other objects with values (parameters and calculations), these single-valued measurements can be serve many purposes in your sketch. For instance, they can be used as distances, angles, and scale factors in transformations; they can define calculations and functions; they can be tabulated; and they can determine the scale of a coordinate system or the position of a plotted point.

To create new measurements, first select the object(s) to measure, then choose a command from the Measure menu.