{"product_id":"measuring-up-how-oliver-smoot-became-a-standard-unit-of-measurement-9781536230123","title":"Measuring Up: How Oliver Smoot Became a Standard Unit of Measurement","description":"\u003cb\u003eCould you be the next smoot? One MIT student's diminutive height becomes his mathematical superpower--and claim to fame--in a true story that's entertaining and inspiring in equal measure. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen the five-foot-seven-inch Oliver Smoot and his friends at MIT decided to play a practical joke, he drew the short straw--and was selected to be the measurement device to carry it out. The task? Measuring the length of a bridge, one lying-down Oliver Smoot at a time. Author Jenny Lacika playfully introduces the idea of nonstandard measurement in this story about the creation of a new unit: the smoot. Anna Bron captures the hijinks of college kids having some fun, getting into trouble, and in the end, making math history. \u003ci\u003eMeasuring Up \u003c\/i\u003einvites readers over to the sillier side of mathematics and encourages them to play with measurement in their own lives. As for the smoot? This unorthodox unit of measure is now cemented into history, in sidewalk markings on a certain Cambridge-to-Boston bridge. Find out more about smoots, MIT pranks, unusual measurements, and further reading in the back matter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Mit Kids Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/23\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781536230123\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 32\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/02\/2025 pg. 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/15\/2025\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Jenny Lacika","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51445635350709,"sku":"9781536230123","price":16.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_c2d52fd9-4c1f-415a-9028-64ebf2381db9.jpg?v=1753799295","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/measuring-up-how-oliver-smoot-became-a-standard-unit-of-measurement-9781536230123","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}