Quadrille paper, also known as graph paper, is ruled in a regular grid of horizontal and vertical lines and is commonly used in mathematics for plotting graphs and functions. It can be used for drawing scaled diagrams and is available in various sizes and packaging. It has many uses beyond academics, including art, crafts, and RPG games.
Quadrille paper is a type of paper, often called graph paper, that is ruled in a regular grid of both horizontal and vertical lines, usually extending to all edges of the paper, with no margins. It is often used in mathematics, for plotting graphs and various functions. This type of paper is often used for drawing scaled diagrams or drawings, as the regular grid of squares allows for scaling conversions by arbitrarily setting the scale of the squares to the desired ratio.
The terms graph paper and quadrille paper are often used interchangeably, although this is not technically correct. Graph paper has many variations, including types with hexagons, equilateral triangles for 3D perspective drawing, ledger paper, and technical paper. Many types of graph paper don’t have a regular grid of identical squares, but quadrille paper always does. Squares on quadrille paper are usually printed in light blue ink, but can be in other colors, such as black or green. The grid is sometimes broken up by a regular grid of slightly bolder lines that group smaller squares into blocks.
For many years, this type of paper was used primarily by mathematicians and students, especially for graphing equations and functions. The regular grid of squares provides the perfect means of expressing the results of such mathematical operations, using the Cartesian system of x and y axis coordinates. The intersections of the grid lines serve as increments of various measures.
Paper of this type is commonly available in standard letter size, regardless of the region of the world where it is produced. Quadrille paper is produced and sold with several variations to the physical packaging and printed grid size. It can be loose-leaf and have holes for inserting into a ring binder or be bound in a spiral notebook or hook-and-loop pad. The printed grid can be any size, although the most common dimensions are four squares per inch in the United States and six millimeters squared elsewhere in the world.
While graph paper is most commonly used for academic activities, it has many other uses as well. Artists use it to lay out drawings, or to create enlargements or reductions of photos or drawings. It has many uses in crafts and sewing. It is popular with RPG players for drawing maps and can be useful for hand-drawn graphs, floor plans, flow charts, or schematics.
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