A measure is a set of observations that reduces the uncertainty in a value. This is usually done by taking a series of measurements and reporting both the mean and statistics.
Power BI supports creating and using measures in tables. It is important to understand this functionality, as it can impact your data model.
Quantity
Measures are standardized values that allow scientists to express physical quantities. They use these standardized values to make measurements, compare measurements and calculate results.
Quantity measures depend on the nature of the object being measured. For example, mass (g) and volume (L) are two ways to measure the quantity of a solid or liquid substance.
There are a number of units that measure different properties of a substance, and they vary from one country to another. Some units, such as the mole, are based on a fixed amount of a specific chemical substance.
Distance
Measures are used to measure a variety of things, from economic indicators and population trends to the times of sporting events. But one of the most common measures is distance, and there are many ways to measure it.
A common way to measure distance is by using a map or chart with scales that show how long something is. It is often helpful to know how far away a point is from another, especially when you want to compare objects that look similar but are very different in size or brightness.
There are also many different tools that can be used to measure distance, including rulers, yard sticks and similar handheld instruments. There are even electronic devices for this purpose, such as laser measuring equipment.
Area
Area is a measure of how much space a two-dimensional shape or figure can cover. It is measured in square units like square centimeters (cm2), square millimeters (mm2), square metres (m2), and so on.
In metric systems, the unit of area is the square metre (m2), which is equivalent to 0.0247 acre. Its multiple, the hectare (ha), is commonly used to measure land.
In US customary systems, we use square inches, square feet and square yards for small areas, and acres and $mi2$ for large ones. In other countries, we often use other units of area, which we can convert to metric.
Weight
Weight is the force exerted by an object due to its mass. Measurements of this quantity are made in units such as gram, kilogram, quintal, and pound.
The word “weight” is derived from the English word “mass,” but the two terms have distinct meanings in science. Newtonian physics made a clear distinction between weight and mass, and the use of the term continues today for official purposes.
Because gravity varies from world to planet, the weight of an object changes based on the location it is being measured. For example, the International Prototype Kilogram kept in Paris weighs differently if it is measured on the Moon, but its mass remains constant.
Temperature
Temperature is the measure of a body’s warmth or coldness, an expression of thermal energy. Scientists use various methods, instruments, and scales to measure temperature.
The most common way to measure temperature is with a thermometer. A traditional thermometer contains a liquid that expands or contracts with changes in temperature.
This method has been around since the early 1600s. The earliest thermometers were based on the fact that mercury or other liquids, like alcohol, expand when they become hot.
Currently, the two most popular scales for measuring temperature are the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales. The Celsius scale has 100 increments between 0 and 100 degrees centigrade, and the Fahrenheit scale has 180.