I just bought a circular glass top for my coffee table and I wanted to measure its precise size.
I grabbed my measuring tape; but alas, with use all its numbers had rubbed off, and it could not be read.
I also have a calibrated square whose side is finely adjustable from arbitrarily small up to 1 foot.
With the square, I determined the diameter was greater - by several multiples - than 21/2 feet: the square's largest diagonal length.
I thought for a moment then, on a hunch, I speed dialed Morty's and described my problem to Alex.
Well, he said, do ya still have the box the thing came in?
Yes, I replied, and that would give me its diameter; but if I could measure the box, I could certainly ...
Ahem! I heard over the phone, as if I was not supposed to speak while Alex was thinking.
What I was going to say was ...
Following Alex's advice, I made a single measurement with my square ruler and found the radius was exactly 3 feet!
What was the reading on my [square] ruler?