Why is bacterial measured as number of colonies rather than size of colonies?

Question

I was doing a Lab on Bacteria so I couldn't figure out this question at all.

Answer 1

Size of the colony, or size of anything, is frankly USELESS if you can see it with your naked eyes. In bacterial studies, you either study something you know or something you don't. In your case, you're studying something you KNOW, just a matter of growth rate/size (which is measured in numbers).

Answer 2

I am just guessing, but the numbers would be so high in colonies it is easier to count the # of colonies. In 1 sq. inch of your body there is more bacteria than people on earth! That is from NOVA.