Page 1 Measure to Measure

In Measure to Measure we will build open boxes out of a paper grid in an attempt to optimize, or make as perfect as possible, the surface area and the volume of the box.

Let's look at the piece of grid paper. Find the area by multiplying the number of boxes on one side by the number of boxes on the other side. For this grid, the dimensions are 19 x 25, which equals 475. But 475 what? In science we must measure in units, like meters or inches. Since we are measuring by a value that is not standard, or the number of squares, we will say 475 square units.

Now let's make boxes! Print out the grid paper onto a heavy piece of card-stock paper. Shade in a 3x3 square (see other options for square sizes on page 2) on each corner of your piece of paper grid. We'll call this a cut of 3. You may cut these squares out. However, it is easier to tape them together if you cut tabs. To do this, cut only from the longer side (the 25 unit side). Then, tape the sides together to form an open box.

4 steps to a box!

1. draw squares	2. cut tabs
3. fold edges	4. tape together

For a cut of 9, the tab is too long. To fix this problem, cut the tab to make it shorter, as indicated in the picture below.

Now that our box is made, we will measure it.

On to page 2!